When a Watch Becomes a Cultural Artefact
There are timepieces, and then there are objects that crystallise an entire moment in popular culture. The Rolex GMT-Master II that Drake wore on the cover of his landmark 2011 album Take Care belongs firmly in the second category. Now offered for private sale at USD $500,000, this extraordinary gem-set reference has surfaced as one of the most talked-about horological offerings of the year — and for the discerning collector based in Asia, it represents precisely the kind of acquisition that sits at the intersection of cultural significance and world-class watchmaking.
The Watch Itself: Rolex Ref. 116758SANR
The reference in question is the Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 116758SANR, a model that Rolex produced in 18-karat yellow gold and set entirely with pavé diamonds and sapphires across both the bezel and bracelet. This is not a watch that whispers — it commands attention from across a room, which is precisely why it suited the aesthetic of Take Care, an album that arrived as a declaration of arrival rather than aspiration. The piece features a custom engraving on the caseback, transforming what is already a rare production reference into a singular, one-of-a-kind object with documented provenance. The combination of factory gem-setting and personal customisation is exceptionally rare in the secondary market, where provenance and condition typically drive price; here, cultural resonance adds a third, arguably more powerful dimension to the valuation.
- Reference: Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 116758SANR
- Material: 18-karat yellow gold with pavé diamond and sapphire setting
- Asking price: USD $500,000
- Distinguishing feature: Custom engraving on caseback with documented celebrity provenance
- Bezel insert colour: Black sapphire and diamond pavé
Why This Matters to the Asian Collector
Across Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and Shanghai, the appetite for watches with verifiable cultural provenance has grown considerably over the past decade. Auction houses including Phillips, Christie's, and Sotheby's have all reported record results from Asia-based bidders on watches tied to musicians, athletes, and cultural figures. A piece like this — with photographic documentation from one of the best-selling albums of its generation — offers something that even a pristine, unworn vintage Daytona cannot: a story that resonates across generations and across industries. For the collector who already owns the conventional holy trinity of Patek, AP, and Rolex, this watch offers a genuinely different conversation piece, one that bridges the worlds of music, fashion, and fine watchmaking in a way that few objects can credibly claim.
Acquiring the Watch
The sale is being handled privately, which means access is everything. Serious enquiries should be directed through established watch brokers and dealers with connections to the North American luxury resale market, as the piece is currently listed via channels close to the original owner. Asia-based collectors who have previously worked with specialist dealers in Hong Kong's Wan Chai district or Singapore's Far East Shopping Centre will understand that watches of this calibre rarely appear through conventional retail pathways. Moving quickly is advisable — at this price point and with this level of visibility, the watch has already attracted significant international interest from multiple continents.
Robb Report Watch Market Listings
📍 Available internationally — enquire via broker
📞 Contact through established luxury watch dealers in Hong Kong or Singapore
The Verdict
Half a million dollars for a Rolex is not a number that requires justification to the readers of this publication — context does that work instead. The Take Care GMT-Master II is a museum-quality object that happens to still tell the time, and it arrives at a moment when the Asian collector market is arguably the most sophisticated and well-resourced it has ever been. If your weekend collection extends from private villas to private jets and bespoke itineraries, then a watch with this depth of story deserves serious consideration. Objects this specific, this documented, and this culturally loaded do not reappear on the market often — and when they do, they do not stay available for long.