Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Dan Caten spotted wearing Rolex

Spotted in what appears to be a sun-drenched Mediterranean setting, DSQ2 co-founder Dan Caten is seen relaxing in casual summer dress with a substantial gold watch on his wrist. The piece is immediately identifiable as a Rolex Yacht-Master II in 18k yellow gold — the brand's flagship sailing complication and one of the most technically complex watches Rolex produces.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II ref. 116688 houses the in-house calibre 4161, a COSC-certified mechanical movement featuring Rolex's patented Ring Command bezel system. This mechanism physically couples the rotating bezel to the movement, allowing the wearer to set a countdown between 1 and 10 minutes — replicating the pre-start sequence used in competitive yacht racing. The 44mm case in 18k yellow gold sits on an Oyster bracelet with a folding Oysterlock clasp. The white lacquer dial with its distinctive red triangle minute hand and sub-register at 6 o'clock is crisp and legible at a glance.

The blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel, introduced on this reference, elevated the 116688 above its predecessor. Cerachrom resists scratches and UV fading, a practical upgrade for an instrument marketed to competitive sailors — though the vast majority of 116688 owners never take it near a starting line. That tension between technical aspiration and luxury reality is precisely what gives the piece its collector character.

Dan Caten and his twin brother Dean launched DSQ2 in 1994, building it into one of Italy's most recognisable fashion houses known for rock-and-roll tailoring and provocative branding. Caten's watch choices tend to reflect the brand's DNA: bold, gold, unapologetically maximalist. The Yacht-Master II in full yellow gold fits that profile precisely — it is not a watch that whispers.

On the secondary market, the ref. 116688 commands a notable premium over its original retail price of approximately $43,550, with grey-market examples regularly trading above $50,000 depending on condition and provenance. Rolex discontinued this specific configuration, which has only strengthened demand among collectors who prize the full-gold execution of the regatta complication.