Many rappers are not shy about showing off their jewelry and watches, whether in music videos, at awards ceremonies, or at social events.
So, let’s take a look at six of the most iconic timepieces in the rap scene.
1. Rolex’s Presidential Day-Date 36 Watch
Rappers are well-known for their love of bling, which is why so many luxury timepieces are associated with the rap scene.
One watch brand that has remained at the top of the game since it started production way back in 1905 is Rolex. So, it should not be surprising that many iconic rappers enjoy showcasing their Rolexes.
Arguably, the most iconic Rolex associated with the rap scene is Tupac Shakur’s Rolex Presidential Day-Date 36. It was featured in his video for the track “To Live and Die in L.A.”
2. Richard Mille’s RM-031 Watch
Rapper and producer Pharrell Williams is one of the most influential and successful names of modern times in the rap scene, so it makes sense that he likes to own and show off luxurious jewelry and timepieces.
If there is one watch that everyone remembers Pharrell wearing, it is the futuristic-looking RM-031 by the Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille, which he wore at the Golden Globes in 2017.
The watch features complex tourbillon movement and aesthetic steel accents. It is highly desirable.
3. Jacob & Co.’s Five Time Zone Watch
If there is one luxury watchmaker that has continued to captivate rap and hip-hop artists over the last few decades, it is Jacob & Co.
For instance, the company made a unique timepiece for the Canadian rapper Drake. The watch, which had a $620,000 price tag, contained a miniature roulette wheel in the center.
But its most iconic watch favored by rap artists is the Five Time Zone watch, which was created in 2022. The watch face is divided into quadrants that display the times in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Paris.
Jay-Z and other notable rappers, such as ASAP Ferg and ASAP Rocky from A$AP Mob have sported the luxurious Five Time Zone watches.
Though, no rappers have yet purchased jacob & co. ‘s masterpiece that was unveiled in March 2023. The Billionaire Timeless Treasure is worth a staggering $20 million – due to its casing of yellow diamonds.
4. Cartier’s Crash Watch
The Cartier Crash watch is without a doubt one of the most iconic timepiece designs of all time.
If you know the Salvador Dali painting The Persistence of Memory, which depicts melting clock faces, you will be able to imagine what the Crash watch looks like. Though, interestingly, its melted appearance was apparently not inspired by the Surrealist painter.
The Cartier Crash first came onto the scene in the swinging 1960s. Cartier, which was known for its traditional circular and square watches at the time, wanted to make something strikingly different that fitted in with the counterculture of the period.
Due to its revolutionary design, the Cartier Crash has remained one of the most sought-after watches around. Several rich and famous rappers, including Tyler the Creator, Jay-Z, and Kanye West own this iconic timepiece.
Well, you have to be rich to get one of these iconic watches! In 2022, one of the originally-released Crash watches sold for an incredible $1.65 million.
5. Hublot’s Big Bang Watch
In 2005, the modern watchmaker Hublot released the Big Bang watch. With exposed screws, a round bezel, a chunky face, and a rubber strap, the luxurious watch soon made big waves, including in the rap scene.
Most notably, Beyoncé gave Jay-Z a Big Bang watch in 2012 that was crafted with 18k white gold and contained 1,282 diamonds. The cost? A staggering $5 million.
6. Patek Philippe’s Nautilus Reference 5711
Patek Philippe’s Nautilus watches are undoubtedly some of the most popular choices among rap and hip-hop artists today.
In fact, it has been noted that two-thirds of the songs on the 2017 Billboard Hot 100 referenced Patek Philippe watches. And notable rappers like Lil Uzi Vert and Drake own Nautilus timepieces.
If there is one watch from the range that stands out above all others, it is the Reference 5711, which was launched in 2006.
While it is not actually the most expensive or complex of the watches made by Patek Philippe, it is undoubtedly the most sought-after. And high-profile rappers like Offset have been sporting the Reference 5711.
One day, maybe the Nautilus Reference 5711 will be worth as much as Patek Philippe’s rarest watches, such as the Grandmaster Chime, which was last sold for a whopping $31 million.
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/person-wearing-gold-analog-watch-YvoSBjP13uM
