Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Maluma spotted wearing Rolex

Maluma made a striking entrance to support Colombia's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on June 17, 2026, arriving at the Azteca Stadium for the squad's 3–1 victory against Uzbekistan. The Colombian rapper and singer paired his national team jersey with a Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Ref. 116695SATS, the gemstone-set variant collectors affectionately call the "Tutti Frutti"—a watch that commands attention as loudly as any goal celebration.

Introduced in 2017, the Yacht-Master 40 Ref. 116695SATS represents an extraordinary departure from Rolex's typically restrained design language. The 40mm case is crafted in 18k pink gold, while the dial features a complete pavé setting of diamonds that creates a shimmering silver-white surface. The rotating bezel, however, is where this reference achieves its visual signature: 32 sapphires in citrus yellow, sunset orange, cornflower blue, and magenta alternate seamlessly with eight lime-green tsavorites (hence the designation SATS—sapphires and tsavorites). Each gemstone sits flush against its neighbors via Rolex's proprietary invisible-setting technique, creating a continuous, flush surface of prismatic colour. A single triangular diamond marker preserves the bezel's timing function. The watch houses the calibre 3135 automatic movement, a proven in-house mechanism offering 42 hours of power reserve and 100 metres of water resistance—adequate for a luxury sports watch, though the gem-setting arguably distances the piece from serious diving applications.

The "Tutti Frutti" Yacht-Master 40 remains divisive among collectors. Purists argue that elaborate gem-setting contradicts the utilitarian roots of Rolex's sports tool watches; advocates counter that Rolex's unparalleled technical mastery in stone-setting justifies the aesthetic liberty. The painstaking invisible-setting process, in which each gemstone must be precisely calibrated and colour-matched, represents decades of horological savoir-faire—a signature hallmark of the manufacture that has evolved beyond purely functional design.

Maluma's choice reflects the broader cultural elevation of the Yacht-Master 40 Ref. 116695SATS beyond controversy into aspirational status. The rapper's public appearance at a World Cup fixture in this gemstone-laden timepiece signals both personal taste and an alignment with the watch's collectors' base: individuals for whom excess is not excess, but unapologetic luxury. The pairing of the vivid bezel with the diamond pavé dial creates a wrist presence that dominates formal and casual contexts alike.

Retail pricing for the Yacht-Master 40 Ref. 116695SATS at Rolex authorized dealers begins around $43,000 USD, though waitlist allocations remain tightly controlled. Grey-market and pre-owned examples currently circulate between $48,000 and $58,000 USD, reflecting sustained collector demand and limited production. The reference remains a modern collectible, with each colour variant commanding distinct premiums based on sapphire tone saturation and tsavorite intensity.