Diddy Wore the Most Expensive Rolex on the Menu

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Some homecomings bang harder than others, and Sean “Diddy” Combs helped Howard University’s festivities get extra loose this week with a surprise performance accompanied by a $1 million donation. Following the September drop of his latest opus, The Love Album: Off the Grid, Sean Combs (aka Puff Daddy, formerly P.Diddy, and also known for a time as simply “Love”) is in the midst of a long-awaited return to form. Diddy’s giant check wasn’t the only flex he brought to his alma mater, however. In addition to an appropriate amount of XXL diamond jewelry for a man who helped create modern hip-hop, the Bad Boy Records founder flaunted one of the most coveted timepieces on the planet: the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Rainbow.”

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is one of the world’s favorite—and most collectible—chronographs. It was also, for a time, the most expensive watch ever auctioned thanks to the 2017 sale of Paul Newman’s legendary ticker for $17 million. The rainbow bezel variant, however, is among the most exclusive pieces in the Swiss watchmaker’s catalog, with a murky application process, a long waiting list, and a six-figure price to buy one at retail. Despite these hurdles (and also because of them), the rainbow Daytona has become a must-have accessory for bust-down-loving collectors in search of the ultimate flex, from John Mayer to Post Malone to Pat Mahomes. Diddy’s is the Everose gold version released in 2018, with a case made from Rolex’s proprietary blend of 18 K pink gold, copper, and platinum, a bezel featuring 36 baguette-cut sapphires, and a case set with 56 diamonds.

Flea’s F.P. Journe Octa Lune

Watching Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist (and avowed Stüssy fan) Flea eat hot wings and talk about music is a great way to spend 20 minutes any day of the week. For anyone who loves watches, however, the experience is enhanced by the knowledge (thanks to @niccoloy) that he’s wearing an F.P. Journe Octa Lune, an incredibly tasteful choice from one of the world’s most fascinating watchmakers. The Octa Lune is a beauty to behold, with an asymmetrical dial including a large date, a power reserve indicator, and a moon phase rendered in 18-karat white gold. The real star, however, is Journe’s Octa caliber, one of the most advanced automatic movements ever made, which can run for nearly a week while maintaining exceptional accuracy—just like Flea himself.

Steph Curry’s Patek Philippe Aquanaut

For most of us, simply being the best shooter in the NBA would be enough of an accomplishment to keep busy. Steph Curry, on the other hand, continues to expand his resume by earning accolades as a singer, a golfer, and one of the best-dressed dudes in the league. He’s also earned kudos as a god-tier watch collector, a reputation he burnished this week when he arrived for Golden State’s matchup with the Phoenix Suns wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A. Not to be confused with the Nautilus, the brand’s legendary 1970s sports watch, the Aquanaut arrived in the late 1990s as a sporty modern addition to the Swiss watchmaker’s conservative lineup. Distinguished by a checkerboard dial, big Arabic numerals and the first rubber strap in the brand’s history, the Aquanaut pushed Patek into the 21st century while earning it a place on discerning wrists like Curry’s.

Rory McIlroy’s World Time Flyback Chronograph 5930P ‘Green’

Last weekend’s Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix 2023 in Austin, Texas, was an all-out battle royale between Max Verstappen (who scored his 50th win) and Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, and Lando Norris, each of whom continues to nip at his heels. Irish PGA champ Rory McIlroy kept things spicy off-track, strolling the starting grid wearing a Patek Philippe World Time Flyback Chronograph 5930P. Featuring two of Patek’s most-loved complications, it makes the perfect accessory for a guy who has won pretty much every title except the Masters, thanks to a hypnotic guilloche-engraved dial and matching alligator strap in Augusta green.

Hailey Bieber’s Patek Philippe Nautilus

Among the many things we learned about Hailey Bieber this week: She has excellent taste in accessories. In addition to never going wheels-up without her Saint Laurent shades and Drew House slippers, the Rhode founder is partial to a mini-sized yellow gold Audemars Piguet, dubbed a TTRO (teeny tiny Royal Oak) by Dimepiece’s Brynn Wallner. In keeping with the Biebers’ ongoing dominance of #couplegoals fits, Hailey’s TTRO is a similar model to the one the Biebs bought himself as a wedding present in 2019.