Watch Paparazzi

Artist Alec Monopoly spotted wearing Rolex

Street artist and global art-world provocateur Alec Monopoly was photographed — face half-covered in his signature theatrical style — with what appears to be a Rolex Submariner Date in 18kt yellow gold on his wrist. The vivid blue dial and gold case are unmistakable even at an oblique angle, consistent with the reference 16618, the pre-2010 generation gold Submariner that predates the switch to a Cerachrom bezel insert.

The Rolex Submariner Date ref. 16618 houses the calibre 3135 movement, a 28,800 vph automatic with a 48-hour power reserve, Rolex's Parachrom hairspring, and COSC chronometer certification. The case measures 40mm in 18kt yellow gold, paired with an Oyster bracelet featuring a folding Oysterlock clasp. The blue aluminium bezel insert — not ceramic — is a key identifier of this generation, and it develops a characteristic patina over time that collectors actively seek. Water resistance is rated to 300 metres.

The 16618 occupies a fascinating position in the collector market. It was discontinued around 2010 when Rolex introduced the successor 116618LB with a blue Cerachrom bezel and updated movement architecture. That discontinuation has driven sustained demand for the 16618 on the secondary market, particularly examples with tropical or faded bezels. A clean, well-preserved example now consistently outperforms its original retail price on the grey market.

Alec Monopoly has built his brand at the intersection of street art and luxury culture — collaborating with Porsche, Louis Vuitton, and Hublot — making a full-gold Rolex Submariner entirely on-brand. His aesthetic leans into excess as artistic commentary, and a yellow-gold dive watch is exactly the kind of object that fits that visual language. He has been spotted with Rolex and Hublot pieces on multiple occasions.

On the current grey market, clean ref. 16618 examples in full gold with blue dial trade in the $25,000–$35,000 range depending on condition, box and papers, and bezel fade. Rolex's current production equivalent, the 126618LB, carries an official retail price of approximately $39,650 in the US market, making the vintage predecessor a relatively accessible entry point into solid-gold Submariner ownership for collectors.