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Actor Donnie Yen spotted wearing Rolex

Donnie Yen, the Hong Kong-born action star best known globally for his role as the titular Wing Chun master in the Ip Man franchise and as Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, was recently spotted with a Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea 'James Cameron Edition' ref. 116660 on his wrist — a watch that earns its dramatic name with equally dramatic engineering credentials.

The Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea ref. 116660 was introduced in 2008 as a quantum leap beyond the standard Sea-Dweller, pushing water resistance from 1,220 metres to a near-incomprehensible 3,900 metres. To achieve this, Rolex engineered the Ringlock System — a nitrogen-alloyed steel ring, a domed sapphire crystal 5.5mm thick, and a helium escape valve working in concert to withstand pressures of up to 390 bar. The case measures 44mm in diameter, making it one of the more substantial references in the Oyster Professional line. Power comes from the in-house Calibre 3135, a 31-jewel automatic movement offering roughly 48 hours of power reserve.

The 'James Cameron Edition' variant — distinguishable by its D-Blue dial, which transitions from deep black at the dial base to vivid blue near the chapter ring, evoking the ocean depths — was released in 2014. It commemorates Cameron's March 2012 solo dive to the Mariana Trench's Challenger Deep, the deepest point on Earth, during which a Rolex experimental prototype endured the full 10,916-metre descent mounted to the submersible's exterior. That backstory transforms the ref. 116660 from an already-exceptional dive watch into a genuine piece of exploration history.

Among collectors, the D-Blue dial variant commands a consistent premium over the standard black-dial 116660, driven both by its narrative cachet and its visually distinctive presentation. It occupies a unique position: accessible enough to wear daily, yet historically significant enough to hold serious collector interest.

Yen's choice of the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea ref. 116660 aligns naturally with an actor whose career has been defined by physical discipline and technical precision. On the grey market, this reference continues to trade above list — reflecting enduring demand for one of Rolex's most uncompromising tool watches.