Watch Paparazzi

Royal Sheikh Issa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa spotted wearing Rolex

A member of Bahrain's royal family, Sheikh Issa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, was recently spotted wearing a platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116506—a timepiece that exemplifies Rolex's mastery of chronographic engineering and precious-metal craftsmanship. The photograph captures the watch on the wrist in its natural element, the light blue dial and brown Cerachrom bezel catching light with characteristic subtlety.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116506 debuted in 2013 as the platinum successor to earlier monolithic Daytona variants. The 40mm Oystersteel case is forged entirely from 950 platinum, a material that demands specialized finishing techniques and contributes significantly to the watch's heft and presence. The case houses Rolex's Calibre 4130, a self-winding chronograph movement developed wholly in-house and finished to chronometer standards. The movement delivers a 72-hour power reserve—nearly three times that of vintage Daytona calibres—and features a column-wheel chronograph with vertical clutch, the industry benchmark for smooth, reliable timing function. Water resistance stands at 100 metres, adequate for casual water exposure but secondary to the watch's chronometric purpose.

The Ref. 116506's dial configuration follows Rolex's proven Daytona formula: three chronograph subdials (running seconds at 9 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 12, and 12-hour counter at 6) arranged symmetrically. The light blue dial introduces visual contrast against the Cerachrom brown bezel—a ceramic insert with tachymeter scale that resists fading and scratching. This colour combination, introduced alongside the reference in 2013, remains one of the most sought variants among platinum Daytona collectors, as it departs from the traditional black or white dials historically associated with the line.

The platinum Daytona occupies a unique position in contemporary horology. While steel variants command lengthy Rolex boutique waitlists and secondary-market premiums, the platinum edition attracts a narrower collector base—those prioritizing material prestige and production scarcity. Platinum Daytonas see approximately 10% of steel production numbers, making each reference mathematically rarer. Sheikh Issa's choice reflects both horological knowledge and access to the upper tier of Rolex's catalogue, a combination rarely found outside royal and ultra-high-net-worth circles.

Retail pricing for the Ref. 116506 sits near the USD 88,000 mark in primary markets, though grey-market and pre-owned examples typically command USD 100,000 to 130,000 depending on condition and box/papers provenance. The platinum Daytona has proved resilient as a store of value, with prices appreciating modestly over the past decade as steel alternatives have accelerated in cost.