Long before celebrities were turning vintage Daytonas into headline fodder and auction houses were building entire catalogs around rapper provenance, Drake was quietly wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II that would become part of modern hip-hop watch lore.
Now, that very watch — the Rolex prominently worn during the Take Care era — has reportedly sold for approximately $500,000, a staggering figure for a reference that, on paper, isn’t traditionally considered ultra-rare. But this sale was never really about scarcity alone. It was about timing, cultural imprint, and the growing collision between music history and collectible horology.
For collectors paying attention, the sale marks another clear signal: provenance is becoming just as important as production numbers.
The Rolex Behind Drake’s Take Care Era
The watch at the center of the sale is not just any GMT-Master II. It is the exceptionally rare Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 116758SANR, a factory gem-set yellow-gold reference that has become deeply tied to Drake’s early rise and the visual identity surrounding Take Care.
Drake wore the watch extensively during the early 2010s, particularly throughout the Take Care promotional era — a period that transformed him from a breakout rap star into one of the defining artists of his generation. The Rolex appeared in photoshoots, public appearances, backstage moments, and most famously in imagery connected to the Take Care period itself, helping cement the watch as part of Drake’s aesthetic during that chapter of his career.
What made the SANR stand out was its unique balance of Rolex sport-watch DNA and unapologetic factory-set extravagance. At a time when many celebrity watches were still largely traditional luxury pieces, this GMT represented something bolder: a highly exclusive Rolex that fused travel-watch functionality with high jewelry execution.
Today, the Ref. 116758SANR is already considered one of the most elusive modern gem-set Rolex sports watches. Add Drake provenance and the mythology of the Take Care era, and the result is the kind of crossover collectible that exists at the intersection of horology, music history, and pop culture nostalgia.
Design Highlights and Specifications
Unlike the relatively understated GMTs Rolex built its reputation on, Drake’s watch is unapologetically extravagant. The Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 116758SANR takes the brand’s iconic travel watch architecture and pushes it deep into high-jewelry territory — the kind of off-catalog Rolex creation most collectors never even see in person.
Crafted entirely in 18k yellow gold, the 40mm case is paired with one of the most striking bezels Rolex has ever produced: a factory-set arrangement of 36 baguette-cut diamonds and 12 black sapphires. One triangular sapphire marks the 24-hour reference point, allowing the bezel to retain its GMT functionality while doubling as a piece of gemstone artistry. Diamonds continue across the lugs and crown guards, giving the watch an almost surreal level of visual presence.
The contrast between the glossy black dial, vivid gemstones, and warm yellow gold creates an aesthetic that feels perfectly aligned with the maximalist luxury culture emerging in hip-hop during the early 2010s. It’s flashy, yes — but importantly, it’s factory flashy. Every stone was set by Rolex itself, placing the SANR among the Crown’s rarest and most labor-intensive gem-set sports references.
What makes this particular example even more compelling is the engraving on the caseback: the unmistakable OVO owl logo, linking the watch directly to Drake’s October’s Very Own universe and cementing its status as a modern cultural artifact rather than simply another rare Rolex.
Key Specifications
- Reference: Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 116758SANR
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Material: 18k yellow gold
- Bezel: Factory-set with 36 baguette diamonds and 12 black sapphires
- Dial: Black dial with luminous markers
- Movement: Rolex Caliber 3186 automatic GMT movement
- Power Reserve: Approximately 48–50 hours
- Bracelet: 18k yellow gold Oyster bracelet
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with Cyclops date magnifier
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
The reference was produced in extremely limited quantities between roughly 2006 and 2012, making it exceptionally uncommon even before the Drake provenance entered the equation. According to dealers familiar with the model, examples typically trade around the low six-figure range — which makes the reported $500,000 sale price all the more remarkable.
The New Era of Cultural Provenance
The sale of Drake’s GMT-Master II reinforces a fascinating reality about today’s watch market: modern cultural relevance can now rival traditional horological rarity.
For years, collectors focused almost exclusively on production runs, dial variations, and auction-house pedigree. Now, watches tied to defining moments in music, sports, and entertainment are becoming artifacts of contemporary history in their own right.
Drake’s “Take Care” Rolex isn’t just a GMT-Master II anymore. It’s a timestamp from a specific cultural moment — and judging by the final sale price, collectors are willing to pay dearly for that connection.
