Drake wears an extensive, high-end watch collection featuring brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Richard Mille, favoring gem-set, customized, and rare models, including unique emerald-covered Patek Philippe Nautiluses and flashy Rolex Daytonas. His collection blends haute horlogerie with bold, personalized style, showcasing ultra-exclusive pieces like the Virgil Abloh-designed Nautilus and various diamond-encrusted Rolexes, reflecting his status as a major collector.
His love for high-end timepieces has made him one of the most recognized collectors in the entertainment world, often seen wearing standout pieces from Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Richard Mille.
In fact, Drake even rapped about his opulent timepieces on the Young Thug and 21 Savage-assisted track “It's Up”, claiming that he has 143 Rolexes in his collection. Diamonds are truly Drake's best friends, and he loves them equally, whether they are encrusted in chunky chains or on his wrist candies.
Drake shows off his new Rolex Daytona "Barbie" edition watch, worth over $1 million.
The "Big Three" watch brands, also known as the "Holy Trinity" of watchmaking, are Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin, representing the pinnacle of Swiss luxury watchmaking due to their historical legacy, meticulous craftsmanship, innovative complications, and prestigious status. These brands consistently set industry standards through hand-finishing, complex movements, and timeless designs, making them highly sought-after by connoisseurs.
The world's most expensive watch is generally considered the Graff Diamonds Hallucination, valued at around $55 million, known for its stunning array of rare colored diamonds set in a platinum bracelet. Other contenders for top spots include Graff Diamonds' The Fascination ($40M) and auction record holders like the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 ($31M), which is the most expensive watch ever sold at auction.
However, it's not part of the prestigious Big Three of watches – why is that? Well, Rolex has always focused on producing larger quantities of durable tool watches. The brand prioritizes functionality and robustness over intricate designs and advanced complications.
Elon Musk often wears his own brand or relies on his phone, but when he does wear a watch, it's typically an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra or a limited-edition TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 SpaceX Chronograph, favoring functional, space-themed timepieces over high-end luxury, with some speculation he might have a custom Tesla watch in development.
Yes, you can buy an authentic Rolex for around $5,000, but you'll need to focus on the pre-owned market for classic, older models like vintage Datejusts, Oyster Perpetuals, and Air-Kings, as new Rolexes start much higher. Expect to find models like the Air-King ref. 5500 or older Datejust 36mm references, often with signs of wear but in good working condition from reputable dealers.
Patek Philippe is generally considered more luxurious and prestigious due to its extreme exclusivity, complex artisanal craftsmanship, and higher average prices, often making heirloom-quality investments, while Rolex offers broader iconic recognition, robust innovation, and better accessibility, appealing to a wider range of luxury buyers seeking status and reliability. Think of Patek Philippe as haute couture for serious collectors and Rolex as accessible, iconic luxury.
18038 Rolex Day-Date with Diamond Hour Markers: Because of its popularity among international leaders and dignitaries, the Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18038 is sometimes known as the “President” watch. Eminem's selection of a Day-Date with diamond hour markers elevates this already elite timepiece.
Yes, you can walk into an Official Rolex Retailer (AD), but buying popular models immediately is rare due to high demand and limited supply, often requiring patience, a relationship with the dealer, or a long waitlist; you might walk out with a less popular model, a pre-owned certified watch, or just a conversation and a place on a list for your desired watch.
"Big 4" watch brands can refer to different elite groups, but most commonly it means Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Richard Mille, dominating the luxury market for high-end, private brands, or sometimes the \"Holy Trinity\" (Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet) plus A. Lange & Söhne for haute horlogerie, or even major Japanese brands like Seiko, Casio, Citizen, and Orient. The specific definition depends on whether the focus is on market share, prestige, or origin.
The "poor man's Rolex" is overwhelmingly considered to be Tudor, a sister brand founded by Rolex's creator, Hans Wilsdorf, to offer similar quality and aesthetics at a lower price point, using less expensive movements and third-party components while retaining Rolex's iconic Oyster cases and crowns. While Tudor has developed its own distinct identity with in-house movements and unique designs (like the popular Black Bay), the nickname persists due to its shared heritage and design language, making it a more accessible entry point to a Rolex-like experience.
Jay-z pulled up to the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix wearing an ultra-rare Patek Philippe 5961R “Tiffany & Co.”, a co-signed annual calendar flyback chronograph in 18k rose gold. The timepiece was unveiled at Basel in 2011, and is adorned with 58 baguette diamonds.
The cheapest Rolex models are typically the entry-level Oyster Perpetual and older Datejust models, especially pre-owned versions like the Oyster Perpetual Date 34mm or vintage Datejusts (Ref. 1601), which can start around $2,000 - $5,000, though modern entry-level prices are much higher at retail. For new watches, the Oyster Perpetual is the most affordable line, starting around $6,000+, but buying used offers the best entry point for value.
Rolex Daytona: 2 to 5 years. This iconic watch has one of the longest waitlists, especially for the stainless steel models. Rolex Submariner: 1 to 3 years. Rolex GMT Master II: 1 to 3 years.
Yes, it's widely reported and generally accepted that Rolex donates a significant portion, often cited as around 90%, of its profits to charity, stemming from founder Hans Wilsdorf's vision, as the entire company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a charitable trust that pays no taxes. While Rolex S.A. is a for-profit entity, its earnings flow to the foundation, which supports various causes like education, health, and culture, making its philanthropic impact substantial.
Jeff Bezos was recently spotted in Miami sporting the ultra-rare Richard Mille RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon “Rafael Nadal,” a watch that costs a staggering $2.4 million and is limited to just 80 pieces worldwide.
Elon Musk's "1-Hour Rule" (often called the 5-Hour Rule) is about dedicating at least one focused hour each weekday (five hours a week) to deliberate learning, reading, or deep thinking, without distractions, to foster continuous growth and problem-solving, a practice also attributed to leaders like Bill Gates. This isn't about working harder but thinking deeper, allowing for crucial reflection amidst constant output, with Musk's own experience highlighting how focused, distraction-free time yields better results than hours of unfocused work.
Which watch do billionaires wear? You often see Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, Richard Mille RM 88 Smiley Tourbillon, Rolex Daytona “Le Mans” Edition, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu Byblos on their wrists. These watches stand out because they use rare materials.
And the answer is generally, yes, you can absolutely buy a Rolex in store (at an authorised dealer). There is a caveat however. It all depends on what you ask for. If, for example you're after a 36mm two tone DateJust with a diamond bezel then you may be in luck.
Here's a ranked list of the 23 hardest-to-get Rolex watches in 2025.