Watch Paparazzi

Singer J Balvin spotted wearing Rolex

J Balvin was recently spotted on the wrist wearing one of Rolex's most flamboyant and technically demanding factory creations — the Yacht-Master 40 in 18K Everose gold, reference 116695SATS, a piece that sits at the absolute top of the nautical collection's complexity and price spectrum.

The ref. 116695SATS is built around Rolex's proprietary Everose gold alloy, a rose gold formula the brand developed and patents to resist fading over time. The 40mm case houses the calibre 2235 — a self-winding movement with a Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers, and a 48-hour power reserve — certified as a Superlative Chronometer to ±2 seconds per day. But the movement almost becomes secondary to the exterior: the bidirectional rotatable bezel is set entirely in multicolored precious stones, including sapphires, rubies, and other gems in varying hues, all mounted by Rolex's in-house gem-setting atelier in Geneva. The dial is similarly treated, delivering a unified riot of color that is, by any measure, hard to ignore.

From a collector standpoint, the 116695SATS occupies a specific and polarizing niche. Purists often sidestep gem-set Rolexes in favor of sport references, but the factory provenance here is critical — this is not an aftermarket modification, and Rolex's internal gem-setting standards are stringent. That distinction matters significantly to serious collectors and insurers alike. The reference is produced in limited numbers and does not appear on every authorized dealer's shelf, which compounds its desirability among buyers who want something genuinely rare from the crown.

J Balvin has established himself as one of the most watch-conscious figures in Latin music, regularly photographed with high-complexity pieces from Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Philippe. His aesthetic leans toward the theatrical, and the 116695SATS is a logical fit — it is Rolex at its most expressive, a world away from the utilitarian roots of the Yacht-Master line.

At UK list price of £48,100, the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 116695SATS is not a casual purchase, and on the secondary market, Everose gem-set Rolex references with factory stone work command premiums that reflect both metal value and scarcity. Buyers seeking this reference should expect grey-market pricing to sit meaningfully above retail.