Watch Paparazzi

Rapper 2 Chainz spotted wearing Rolex

2 Chainz, born Tauheed Epps and one of hip-hop's most openly enthusiastic watch collectors, was recently photographed wearing the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126755SARU — a rose gold factory gem-set variant that occupies the absolute apex of Rolex's production catalogue. The sighting is no casual flex; this is a watch that Rolex builds in extremely limited numbers and allocates with the same scarcity logic it applies to its platinum Daytona.

The 126755SARU is built around the 40mm Oyster case in 18k Everose gold, housing Rolex's calibre 3285 movement — a manufacture self-winding mechanical with a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and a GMT complication that allows independent setting of the local hour hand. The reference debuted as part of the broader 126710 GMT-Master II generation, but the 126755 designation marks the gem-set, precious-metal tier. On this specific reference, 29 round brilliant diamonds rim the bezel flange while 30 blue sapphires — hand-selected for chromatic uniformity — populate the bi-directional 24-hour graduated bezel insert. The dial is set entirely in pavé diamonds, leaving almost no metal surface visible.

Within the collector community, the 126755SARU carries a specific kind of weight: it is entirely factory original. The chronic debate in high-jewellery watch circles concerns aftermarket stone setting, which voids manufacturer warranties and introduces questions of structural integrity and resale legitimacy. Rolex's own gem-setting atelier in Geneva handles every stone on this reference, making it one of the few pieces where maximum visual impact and full factory provenance coexist without compromise.

2 Chainz has built a public watch identity around precisely this category — pieces that are technically serious and visually unambiguous. He has been documented wearing multiple Rolex references over the years, but the 126755SARU represents a step into the rarefied segment where Rolex competes directly with haute joaillerie houses.

At official retail the 126755SARU lists at approximately $117,000 USD. On the current grey market the reference trades significantly above that figure, with recent transactions placing it closer to $185,000 USD — a premium that reflects both genuine scarcity and the sustained collector appetite for factory gem-set Rolex sport references in precious metal.