Watch Paparazzi

Royal Tunku Abdul Rahman Hassanal Jeffri spotted wearing Rolex

Spotted on the wrist of Tunku Abdul Rahman Hassanal Jeffri, the 116506 is a watch that needs no introduction in serious collecting circles — though its rarity means most enthusiasts encounter it only in photographs. The young Tunku, fifth son of Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor, was photographed wearing the piece publicly, a sighting that underlines both his personal taste and the Johor royal family's well-documented appreciation for significant timepieces.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 was introduced at Baselworld 2013, marking the first time Rolex produced the Daytona in 950 platinum. The 40mm case pairs with a matching platinum Oyster bracelet and houses the in-house calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, 72-hour power reserve, and a frequency of 28,800 vph. The Cerachrom bezel — rendered here in a proprietary platinum-toned ceramic — carries a tachymetric scale and resists scratching and UV fading. The ice-blue dial, exclusive to this platinum reference, features subdials in a slightly darker blue tone, creating a subtle but immediately recognizable contrast.

Among collectors, the 116506 occupies a category of its own. Rolex produces it in extremely limited numbers, and it rarely appears on the secondary market. It is widely considered the definitive expression of the modern Daytona — more so than the gold variants — precisely because platinum is so atypical for a sports chronograph. Enthusiasts regard it as a sleeper grail: technically accessible by price standards for ultra-high-net-worth buyers, yet nearly impossible to source through official channels.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Hassanal Jeffri's father, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, was crowned Malaysia's 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in January 2024, elevating the Johor royal family to the highest constitutional office in the country. The prince himself maintains a relatively low public profile, making this sighting a notable data point for royal watch watchers and Daytona specialists alike.

On the grey market, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 consistently trades above $85,000 USD, a significant premium over its already substantial retail price. Demand shows no sign of softening, driven by platinum's scarcity in Rolex production and the reference's crossover appeal between sports-watch collectors and luxury precious-metal enthusiasts.