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Entrepreneur Elisabetta Franchi spotted wearing Rolex

Elisabetta Franchi, the Italian entrepreneur and creative force behind her self-named fashion label, was recently photographed wearing one of the most coveted and least-seen references in the Rolex sports watch universe: the Cosmograph Daytona in platinum, reference 116576TBR. It is the kind of wrist presence that stops conversations — and for good reason.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116576TBR is built entirely in 950 platinum, a material Rolex reserves for its most exclusive creations. The distinctive ice-blue dial — a colour that platinum oxidation naturally produces on applied white gold and platinum dials at Rolex — carries three subsidiary chronograph counters and baguette-cut diamond hour indices. The bezel escalates the specification further: 36 baguette-cut diamonds are channel-set across its tapered surface, a meticulous gem-setting exercise that requires individual hand-selection of each stone for colour and size matching. Powering the watch is the calibre 4130, Rolex's proprietary column-wheel chronograph movement featuring a vertical clutch, a 72-hour power reserve, and a COSC-certified chronometer rating — widely regarded as one of the most reliable and serviceable chronograph ebauches in contemporary horology.

The 116576TBR occupies a category of its own within the Daytona family. While steel and gold Daytonas are perennial conversation pieces, the platinum baguette variant sits above them in scarcity, complexity, and price. Rolex produces it in very limited quantities, and it rarely surfaces at retail. Collectors who prioritise gem-set complications at this level often find themselves choosing between this reference and jewellery-house commissions — the Rolex wins on movement pedigree and brand permanence.

Elisabetta Franchi built her fashion empire from Bologna, launching her brand in 1998 and growing it into a globally recognised name associated with strong femininity, bold tailoring, and luxury positioning. Her choice of a platinum Rolex Daytona with full baguette diamond treatment is entirely consistent with that brand identity — maximalist in the right way, grounded in craftsmanship rather than mere ostentation.

On the grey market, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116576TBR commands a significant premium over its already substantial retail price, reflecting both its platinum composition and the near-impossibility of obtaining it through official retail channels. It remains one of the few Rolex references where demand consistently and comfortably outpaces any available supply.