Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Gué Pequeno spotted wearing Rolex

A studio session in Milan turns into an inadvertent watch drop. Gué Pequeno — born Cosimo Fini, the Turin-raised rapper who co-founded Club Dogo and has since become arguably the most commercially consistent voice in Italian rap — is pictured in what appears to be a recording environment, left hand raised to his chin, revealing one of the rarest production Rolex references in existence: the Cosmograph Daytona 116599RBOW in 18k white gold.

Rolex introduced the 116599RBOW as a strictly limited, 200-piece edition, placing it firmly in the ultra-exclusive tier of its gem-set catalogue. The 40mm white gold case houses the Calibre 4130, Rolex's in-house chronograph movement featuring a column wheel and vertical clutch — a significant engineering departure from the earlier Valjoux-based movements that defined the Daytona's first decades. Power reserve stands at approximately 72 hours. The bezel is set with 36 baguette-cut precious stones — alternating sapphires and rubies — arranged in ascending spectral order from the 6 o'clock position, creating the rainbow gradient that gives the reference its collector nickname. The lugs carry additional diamond pavé, and the black lacquer dial is set with round brilliant diamond hour markers.

The 116599RBOW occupies a peculiar position in horological culture: it is simultaneously a serious complications watch, a gem-set art object, and a street-culture status symbol. Its rarity and price point place it beyond the reach of even well-resourced collectors, and its association with hip-hop culture on both sides of the Atlantic has made it one of the most photographed wrists in contemporary music. The rainbow bezel concept has since spawned countless imitators and inspired Rolex's own subsequent rainbow pieces on the Sky-Dweller and Datejust.

Gué Pequeno has long signalled luxury watch literacy through his music and public appearances. Wearing the 116599RBOW here — rather than a more accessible Daytona variant — demonstrates a collector's eye, not merely a spender's impulse. The pairing with distressed Dsquared2 denim and a quilted Prada bucket hat is deliberately casual, letting the watch provide the formal tension.

On the grey market, the 116599RBOW commands extraordinary premiums. Official retail was approximately $550,000 USD, but secondary market transactions for verified examples have exceeded that figure, particularly for unworn or single-owner pieces. With only 200 units produced, true market price is dictated almost entirely by buyer demand at any given moment rather than published grey-market benchmarks.