Watch Paparazzi

Singer Maluma spotted wearing Rolex

Maluma, the Colombian reggaeton and Latin pop singer whose global profile has grown steadily through collaborations, film roles, and a carefully curated personal aesthetic, was recently spotted on the wrist wearing the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in Oystersteel, reference 116500LN — one of the most recognisable and sought-after watches produced in the 21st century.

Rolex introduced the ref. 116500LN in 2016 at Baselworld, and it instantly rewrote the rules for the Daytona line. The defining upgrade was the black Cerachrom ceramic bezel, replacing the aluminium insert used since the 6239 era. The bezel's tachymeter scale is rendered via PVD filling, ensuring it resists UV fading and scratching in ways no aluminium piece can. Inside the 40mm Oystersteel case beats the Calibre 4130 — a column-wheel, vertical-clutch chronograph movement developed entirely in-house by Rolex, replacing the outsourced Zenith El Primero-derived Calibre 4030. The 4130 offers 72 hours of power reserve and a 28,800 vph beat rate, and its simplified architecture makes servicing considerably more straightforward than its predecessor.

From a collector standpoint, the 116500LN occupies a rare position: it is simultaneously an authorised dealer nightmare and a grey-market phenomenon. Waiting lists at authorised retailers have stretched to years in many markets, and the watch almost never reaches the counter at list price. The combination of a fully in-house movement, the new ceramic bezel, and the Daytona name — steeped in motorsport history since the 1960s — created demand that Rolex's production volumes have never been able to satisfy.

Maluma is no stranger to high-end horology; his social media presence regularly features statement timepieces alongside his equally statement wardrobe. The Daytona ref. 116500LN, however, represents something beyond flash — it is a watch serious collectors actively pursue, lending the sighting a layer of credibility beyond pure celebrity endorsement.

At official retail the 116500LN lists at approximately $14,550 USD in the United States. On the grey market, demand continues to push transaction prices considerably higher, with the black-dial variant consistently commanding a significant premium over list.