Actor Saif Ali Khan spotted wearing a Rolex

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan — known as much for his sartorial confidence as his on-screen performances — was recently spotted wearing one of Rolex's most theatrically extravagant sports watches: the Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow in 18K yellow gold, reference 116598RBOW. The sighting, captured in what appears to be a production or promotional context, positions the watch against the warm tones of traditional Indian dress, an arresting contrast that only amplifies the piece's inherent drama.

The Rolex Daytona 116598RBOW is built around the brand's in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, offering 72 hours of power reserve and COSC-certified chronometric precision. The case measures 40mm in 18K yellow gold, water-resistant to 100 metres. The defining feature is its bezel: 36 baguette-cut sapphires — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet — arranged in a seamless chromatic gradient, framed by pavé-set round diamonds at the lugs and pushers. The black dial carries champagne-toned subdials and diamond hour indices, completing an aesthetic that sits at the intersection of haute joaillerie and motorsport instrument.

First unveiled in yellow gold at Baselworld 2012 and later reissued in white and Everose gold variants, the Rainbow Daytona has achieved near-mythological status in collector circles. Waitlists at authorised dealers are measured in years, if lists exist at all. The reference commands grey-market premiums that would make most Swiss independents blush, routinely trading between $450,000 and $550,000 USD at auction and through secondary dealers — roughly two to three times the already stratospheric retail figure.

Saif Ali Khan's relationship with luxury timepieces is well-documented among Indian watch enthusiasts. A member of one of Bollywood's most prominent families, Khan has been photographed with a range of high-horology pieces over the years. Choosing the Rainbow Daytona — a watch that requires both serious collector knowledge and considerable discretionary budget — signals deliberate intent rather than mere celebrity endorsement.

At an official retail price of $226,100 USD (approximately Rs. 1,60,00,000), the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116598RBOW is already exclusive by any measure. On the open market, however, that figure is merely the floor. For collectors locked out of authorised dealer allocations, securing this reference means accepting a premium that reflects just how thoroughly demand has outstripped supply — a dynamic showing no signs of reversing.