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Royal Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim spotted wearing Rolex

The Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Rolex's most opulent production references — the GMT-Master II 116759SA in 18K white gold, factory-set with diamonds and blue sapphires. For a royal known to wear watches as deliberate expressions of status and connoisseurship, the choice is entirely coherent.

The Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116759SA represents the apex of the GMT line's gem-set hierarchy. The two-tone bezel — alternating 29 round-cut diamonds and 30 blue sapphires in the classic Pepsi configuration — is executed entirely in-house at Rolex's gem-setting workshops in Geneva. The 40mm white gold case houses calibre 3186, a COSC-certified movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 48-hour power reserve, featuring Rolex's Parachrom hairspring for enhanced shock and magnetic resistance. The dial itself is set with baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds across the entire surface, eliminating any conventional dial furniture in favour of pure stone coverage.

From a collector standpoint, the 116759SA occupies a peculiar but respected position. Purists tend to gravitate toward steel sport references, yet the gem-set GMT commands genuine attention because it demonstrates Rolex's rarely discussed capabilities as a high jewellery manufacturer. Production numbers are extremely limited — these are not pieces that appear in standard allocations — and the combination of a functional GMT complication with certified gemstone setting at this quality level is difficult to source elsewhere at any price.

Tunku Ismail, who holds the rank of General and serves as the Crown Prince of Johor, Malaysia's southernmost state, has cultivated a public profile that extends well beyond ceremonial duties. He is an active social media presence and an outspoken figure in Malaysian public life, and his watch choices consistently reflect genuine engagement with horology rather than passive acquisition.

At a UK list price of £86,400, the 116759SA translates to approximately $108,000 at current exchange rates. On the secondary market, white gold gem-set GMT references have held value well, with grey market pricing tracking closely to or above retail given constrained supply. For a piece of this specification, authenticated examples rarely surface at a discount.