Actor Mark Wahlberg spotted wearing a Rolex

Mark Wahlberg was recently photographed wearing one of the most visually arresting watches in the Rolex catalogue — the Cosmograph Daytona 116598RBOW in 18K yellow gold, better known in collector circles simply as the 'Rainbow Daytona.' The sighting is consistent with Wahlberg's well-documented appetite for high-end horology, and the choice of reference here is anything but casual.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116598RBOW is built around the in-house calibre 4130, a self-winding chronograph movement that Rolex introduced in 2000 to replace the Zenith El Primero-based calibre 4030. The 4130 offers a 72-hour power reserve, a column-wheel mechanism, and a vertical clutch for clean chronograph engagement. It beats at 28,800 vph and is COSC-certified. The case measures 40mm in 18K yellow gold, with a sapphire crystal and a water resistance of 100 metres — practical underpinnings beneath what is, by any measure, an extravagant exterior.

What makes the 116598RBOW genuinely extraordinary is its bezel: 36 baguette-cut sapphires arranged in a carefully graduated rainbow sequence — violet through red — each stone individually selected for colour saturation and cut to fit its specific position. The dial features 11 baguette diamond hour markers and three sub-dials for the chronograph registers. The execution requires extraordinary gem-setting labour, which is a large part of why production numbers remain very low and waiting lists at authorised dealers are essentially theoretical.

Wahlberg has been photographed with premium Rolex references before, and the Rainbow Daytona fits a pattern: watches that are technically serious but make no effort to be understated. The 116598RBOW occupies a specific position in the market — it appeals to collectors who want Rolex's movement credentials alongside jewellery-level finishing, and it has developed a strong following among entertainers and athletes who understand both dimensions.

At UK list price of approximately £100,000 — roughly $125,000 USD at current rates — the Rolex Daytona 116598RBOW is already positioned at the very top of the brand's public pricing. On the grey market, however, demand consistently pushes values well above retail, with recent transactions recorded in the $175,000–$220,000 range depending on condition, box, and papers. Allocation is tight enough that grey market premiums show no sign of compressing.