Rapper Drake spotted wearing a Rolex

Drake has long treated fine watchmaking as a serious pursuit rather than a wardrobe accessory, and his latest sighting reinforces that reputation. The Toronto rapper was photographed wearing the Rolex Daytona Ref. 116505 in 18K Everose gold, fitted with a baguette diamond dial — one of the most opulent factory configurations available directly from Geneva.

The Rolex Daytona 116505 was introduced in 2012 as part of the brand's Oyster collection in Everose gold, Rolex's proprietary 18-karat rose gold alloy engineered for enhanced corrosion resistance and colour stability over time. The case measures 40mm and houses the in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch that replaced the older Zenith-based Calibre 4030 — a significant milestone in Rolex's movement independence. The Calibre 4130 delivers a 72-hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vph, with a COSC-certified chronometer rating. When the baguette dial option is specified, Rolex's gem-setting workshop meticulously places individually cut rectangular diamonds or coloured stones across the three sub-registers and dial surface, a process that adds considerable production time and cost.

From a collector standpoint, the 116505 in baguette configuration occupies a niche that is simultaneously accessible through authorised dealers and perpetually difficult to source. Rolex allocates these gem-set references selectively, and waitlists at authorised dealers for high-jewellery Daytona variants stretch years in some markets. The reference carries the full prestige of the Daytona lineage — a model whose roots trace back to the 6239 of 1963 and whose cultural cachet has only intensified with time.

Drake's relationship with Rolex is well-documented. He has been spotted across a range of the brand's most complex offerings, and the baguette Daytona fits coherently within a collection that values craftsmanship as much as statement. The 116505 in this specification signals deliberate taste rather than impulse acquisition.

On the market, the Rolex Daytona 116505 with baguette dial commands a substantial premium over list. While official UK pricing sits around £32,050 for standard versions of the reference, baguette dial configurations carry significantly higher retail figures depending on stone specification. Grey market values for the gem-set 116505 consistently outpace retail by a meaningful margin, reflecting both scarcity and sustained collector demand.