Watches and rap: when rappers talk about Rolex, Patek, and G-Shock

In rap, there's a lot of talk about money, cars, jewelry, clothes… and, of course, watches. Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, G-Shock, Daytona, Nautilus: watch references have become almost indispensable in the lyrics of many rappers, both in France and the United States.

And that's not really surprising. In rap, a watch isn't just for telling time. It can represent success, money, social status, a taste for luxury or, conversely, a way of showing that you've stayed true to yourself despite success. At PSB Watches, these references naturally resonate with us. So we had fun looking at what some of the best watch-related punchlines in rap really mean.

Why do rappers love talking about watches so much?

A watch is probably one of the most effective accessories for talking about success. Unlike a car or a house, it fits on a few centimeters of wrist and can still be worth the price of a car. In rap, the name of a brand or model is sometimes enough to convey an entire message: a Rolex, an Audemars Piguet, or a Patek Philippe don't tell the same story as a classic watch.

There's also a fairly obvious link between rap and watchmaking: time. The time spent working, time passing, time earning money, or the time separating the rapper's beginnings from their new life. The watch thus naturally becomes a symbol of ascent and success.

Maes: when €100,000 can fit on a wrist

In Opaque, Maes summarizes this idea quite well with a particularly effective line:

“I have nothing on me even if I can put 100k on my wrist”

The interest of this punchline lies precisely in the contrast. He might have "nothing on him," but he can wear a €100,000 watch on his wrist if he chooses. The watch then becomes a kind of miniature display of wealth: no need to arrive in a Lamborghini to show you've made it; a glance at the wrist can suffice.

It's also a sign of humility: he has the means, but he chooses whether or not to do it. It's not uncommon to see him with "classic" watches, like this G-Shock GA-2100SKE-7A for only about a hundred euros:

And in the world of high-end watchmaking, this €100,000 amount is obviously not entirely fanciful. Between very high-end pieces, rare editions, and diamond-set watches, some timepieces can reach particularly impressive prices.

Booba: a watch that's not even there to tell time anymore

Booba takes the idea of a watch as a luxury item even further in 2.0:

“My watch doesn't show the time, but it's full of diamonds”

Here, the primary function of the watch almost takes a back seat. What matters is the jewelry, the diamonds, and what the piece represents. This is a vision often found in high-end watchmaking: some watches are so intricately crafted or gem-set that they almost straddle the line between watchmaking and jewelry.

Booba and his diamond-set watch on the cover of his album "Futur"

And it's also a good illustration of how rap uses watches. A watch can be technically incredible, but in a punchline, what primarily interests the rapper is often what it says about the wearer.

Lil Tjay: $200,000 on the wrist, like a car

American rap obviously uses the same codes. In Me Again, Lil Tjay directly compares the price of his watch to that of a car:

“Just spent two hundred thousand on my wrist like I spent two hundred thousand on a car”

The comparison is quite insane, but it works perfectly. Everyone understands what a $200,000 car represents. But imagining spending the same amount on something that fits on your wrist immediately gives luxury another dimension.


Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe: the winning combo for Lil Tjay

The watch then becomes the miniature equivalent of a luxury car: much smaller, but capable of conveying exactly the same message.

Ninho and the Rolex Daytona: when the model becomes a punchline

In Binks to Binks 7, Ninho refers to a particularly well-known watch:

“Daytona yellow gold, green dial”

The Rolex Daytona is one of the most iconic watches from the crown brand. Its history is notably linked to the automotive world and racing, but over time it has become a true symbol of luxury and success.

And Ninho doesn't stop at just the name Rolex: he specifies yellow gold and a green dial. Ninho is referring to the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in 18 ct yellow gold with a green dial, reference 126508-0008. This is where the reference becomes interesting for watch enthusiasts. In watchmaking, details matter enormously. Two watches of the same model can have a completely different personality depending on their metal, dial, or configuration.

Koba LaD: Audemars Piguet, diamonds, and success

In C'est moi, Koba LaD directly associates Audemars Piguet with his rise:

“Look, I made it, Audemars-Piguets, since I have money, I put diamonds on it.”

Here, there's no need to dig deep to understand the message. The watch serves to show the journey made. I succeeded, I have money, I can now afford an Audemars Piguet and even have it set with diamonds.


Koba La D is pictured here with a Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Date 5980/1AR-001

Audemars Piguet also holds a special place in rap culture. The Royal Oak, with its octagonal case and integrated bracelet, has an immediately recognizable visual identity. In rap, as in fashion, certain watches become true symbols, and their name alone evokes a certain level of success.

"Indian numerals on my Audemars": when rap talks about Arabic Dial

This one particularly interests us at PSB Watches. In Valise, Rim'K, Koba LaD, and SCH refer to the numerals on their watch:

“Indian numerals on my Audemars”

The phrase refers to a particularly interesting type of dial for watch enthusiasts: the Arabic Dial. These watches use Eastern Arabic numerals, like ١، ٢، ٣، ٤، ٥, instead of the Western numerals usually found on our dials.

And this difference immediately changes the character of a watch. The dial becomes more original, with a very strong visual identity and a true cultural dimension. Arabic Dial watches are particularly appreciated in the Middle East and by enthusiasts looking for a watch different from classic models.

This is precisely a world that PSB Watches knows particularly well. We offer Seiko Arabic Dial, Casio Arabic Dial, Orient Arabic Dial, and Tristar Arabic Dial. So naturally, when a rap punchline gives us the opportunity to talk about Arabic numerals on an Audemars Piguet, we couldn't pass it up.

Werenoi: when time literally becomes money

In Animal, Werenoi probably makes one of the most obvious associations between watchmaking and money:

“The watch price goes up and time is money”

It's hard to be more horological. The price of the watch increases, while time itself represents value. And right after, the Lamborghini completes the picture. Watch, car, money: all the codes of luxury are gathered in a few words.


Werenoi buying a Richard Mille for his 31st birthday

Ultimately, this is what makes watches so interesting in rap lyrics. They allow for discussions about wealth while playing with a universal concept: time.

Hamza: a different watch for each day

Hamza takes a slightly different approach in KYKY2BONDY:

“Monday, the Royal, Tuesday, Nautilus, Wednesday, I bring out the Daytona, yeah”

Here, we're no longer just saying "I have a nice watch." We're talking about a collection. A Royal Oak on Monday, a Patek Philippe Nautilus on Tuesday, and a Rolex Daytona on Wednesday: for the average person, that's a lot of watches for three days.


And that's not all, you can also see him with a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon

For a passionate collector, however, the idea is quite easy to understand. A watch can be chosen based on the outfit, the occasion, or simply the mood of the day. Hamza simply pushes the concept to a level where the watch drawer seriously begins to resemble a boutique.

Jul: "I'm in G-Shock, not Rolex"

And then there's Jul. Because talking about the relationship between rap and watches without mentioning the Marseille artist would be a shame. In G-Shock, he drops:

“I'm in G-Shock, not Rolex”

This punchline is interesting because it takes the exact opposite stance of the previous ones. Here, the goal isn't to show that the watch is worth a fortune. On the contrary, the G-Shock represents a form of simplicity and self-fidelity despite success.

The message is quite clear: having succeeded doesn't necessarily mean having to completely change your style. And that's also what explains G-Shock's special place in streetwear culture. The brand has a strong, recognizable identity, very different from that of Rolex or Patek Philippe.

When rappers go from punchline to collaboration

And the story becomes even more interesting since Jul then collaborated with Casio on a special version of the G-Shock DW-5600, the DW-5600JUL22-1.

What was once a simple reference in a song thus became an actual watch associated with the artist's universe. A beautiful illustration of how the links between rap, fashion, and watchmaking now extend far beyond mere song lyrics.

Jul is also not the only rapper to have transformed his relationship with G-SHOCK into a real collaboration. Central Cee is also particularly linked to the brand. The British rapper has worn G-SHOCKs since childhood and his favorite model is the DW-6900. In September 2024, G-SHOCK officially named him European ambassador.



But the partnership went even further in 2025 with a real collaboration between G-SHOCK and SYNA, Central Cee's brand. The result? A bordeaux-colored DW-6900CC25-4ER, inspired by old British passports, with several details reflecting SYNA's identity. Central Cee thus revisited one of his favorite G-SHOCK models.

Lil Baby: when even a Rolex doesn't tell the whole story

In No Friends, Lil Baby also plays with watchmaking vocabulary:

“All these pointers in my watch but my Rolex ain't tellin'”

The phrase plays on the different meanings of the word "pointers," but it mainly echoes an idea present in many rap songs: a watch can attract attention without telling the whole story of the person wearing it.


Lil Baby and his fully diamond-set Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

A Rolex can show success. It doesn't necessarily say how many years of work, struggles, or ambition it took to get there. And ultimately, that's perhaps one of the reasons watches are so present in rap: they are visible, but they always retain a part of mystery.

Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, or G-Shock: each has its message

Looking at all these references, we notice something: rappers don't talk about all watches in the same way. Rolex often represents success and status. Audemars Piguet refers more to very high-end luxury and a certain knowledge of watchmaking. The Patek Philippe Nautilus evokes collecting and prestige, while G-Shock can represent the streets, robustness, and a form of simplicity.

This is what makes watch references interesting: the name of the watch almost becomes an adjective. Saying "Daytona," "Nautilus," "Royal Oak," or "G-Shock" instantly creates an understandable mood for a sentence.

When watches go from lyrics to collaborations

The relationship between rap and watchmaking doesn't stop at punchlines. Artists have become real players in fashion and lifestyle culture, and brands have understood this well. Collaborations allow transforming a rapper's universe into a concrete product, as illustrated by the collaboration between Jul and G-Shock.

This is a rather logical evolution. Rappers talk about watches because they represent their success, while watch brands seek to reach new generations and new communities. Both worlds therefore have a lot to gain from meeting each other.

So, what's the best rap watch?

It's impossible to answer this question seriously. If we follow Hamza, we'd need a Royal Oak on Monday, a Nautilus on Tuesday, and a Daytona on Wednesday. If we follow Jul, a G-Shock can do the trick just fine. And if we listen to Koba LaD, a few diamonds don't seem to hurt either.

More seriously, that's precisely what makes watchmaking interesting: there isn't just one way to love watches. Some seek the prestige of a grand house, others prefer a solar watch, a Casio, a G-Shock, or simply a model with a different identity.

And that's where Arabic Dial watches make perfect sense. A dial with Eastern Arabic numerals allows you to break away from classic models and assert a true personality on your wrist. PSB Watches is your specialist in these models, with widely recognized expertise in Europe.

Watches in rap: much more than an accessory

From Maes to Booba, from Ninho to Koba LaD, from Werenoi to Hamza, from Jul to Lil Baby, the references to watches are ultimately very different, but they often tell the same story: the journey made.

The watch can represent money, success, hard work, a taste for luxury, belonging to a culture, or simply the desire to treat oneself. And contrary to what one might think, the most interesting watch is not necessarily the most expensive one.

This is perhaps what Jul's punchline summarizes best. A Rolex can represent success, a Patek Philippe prestige, an Audemars Piguet luxury, and a G-Shock a certain fidelity to one's roots. In the end, the best watch is often the one that suits the wearer.

And if you're looking for a watch that stands out, at PSB Watches, our specialty remains Arabic Dial watches, with a selection from Seiko, Casio, Orient, and Tristar. Because after all, if even rap is interested in Arabic numerals on watches, there might be a good reason.