
The enduring reputation of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is an attention-grabbing phenomenon within the watch business. Only a few timepiece designs have been so versatile and common for a spread of fashion, folks, events, and even budgets (luxurious budgets, that’s). Not that many individuals really use Rolex’s common chronograph watch as a stopwatch anymore, however the dial-within-dial design of this basic sports activities watch has made it an icon of luxurious and success for many years, and for 2021, Rolex returns a basic luxurious execution of the Daytona with meteorite dials.
Meteorite dials are nothing new at Rolex or within the watch business basically, however they hardly appear to lose their enchantment. The explanation for that is two-fold in my view. First is that the natural crystalline metallic aesthetic of meteorite is visually enticing whereas additionally nonetheless masculine. Natural textures in wristwatches are nonetheless very talked-about, and meteorite hits a candy spot with many customers. The second purpose for the enchantment of meteorite is extra emotional. Gadgets with uncommon or treasured supplies are a cornerstone of the luxurious watch area, and the concept a watch dial is made out of a chunk of falling area rock has a whole lot of mental and emotive enchantment for a lot of customers.
For now, Rolex solely pairs meteorite dials with treasured steel circumstances. Accordingly, each of those Rolex Daytona watches are in gold, with the reference 116519LN being in 18k white gold (on a black Rolex Oysterflex strap and matching 18k white gold bracelet), and the reference 116508 is in 18k yellow gold. Whereas not pictured on this article, for 2021, Rolex additionally provides this “meteorite & black” dial on the reference 116505 in 18k Everose gold.
The sportiest and most informal of those new gold and meteorite Daytona watches is the reference 116519LN, which might be essentially the most flirtatious of those watches for timepiece collectors. The yellow or rose (Everose) gold fashions on the matching gold bracelets are extra conspicuously luxurious and positively the showier of decisions. In 18k white gold on the extra humble-looking black Oysterflex strap, the white gold meteorite Daytona seems essentially the most like an informal on a regular basis timepiece. Then once more, it isn’t. Neglect the $30,000 plus value level for a second. What I’m speaking about is the heft of a white gold case and the great thing about the meteorite dial. The 116519LN additionally has a black ceramic bezel, which goes to put on higher than a softer gold bezel. So for individuals who desire a meteorite Daytona watch for normal put on, and don’t thoughts a little bit of stealth wealth, then the 116519LN model may very well be best for you.
Rolex continues to provide the Daytona in a 40mm-wide case that’s waterproof to 100 meters and makes use of classic-style screw-down chronograph pushers together with the crown. The irony is that outdoors of contemporary supplies and recognition, the Daytona could be very a lot a retro-style chronograph watch in some ways. That mentioned, a few of its quirkier retro components (such the pushers) are a core a part of the design DNA so many customers affiliate with the Daytona watch household. In that sense, Rolex would possibly very a lot wish to replace the Daytona in quite a lot of methods, however good enterprise sense appears to take care of that Rolex mustn’t mess an excessive amount of with a successful method.
Contained in the Rolex Daytona is the well-aging in-house made Rolex caliber 4130 automated chronograph motion. It operates at 4Hz with about three days of energy reserve and options simply the time and 12-hour chronograph. Like all different Rolex actions the mechanism is a “SUPERLATIVE Chronometer,” that means it’s COSC Chronometer-certified and put by means of further accuracy and efficiency testing at Rolex.
In case you actually wish to be a “baller,” then the yellow or Everose gold meteorite Daytona is the look ahead to you. On the matching, tapering Oyster bracelet the Daytona has a really regal class to it which is additional manifested by the black subdial and silver meteorite dial. Rolex is aware of that some folks desire rose gold and others desire yellow gold – which is why the model typically provides comparable merchandise in each steel decisions. Personally, I’m a yellow gold particular person, and the 116508 fits me moderately effectively.
Rolex costs its all-gold Daytona watches a bit greater than even the Rolex Day-Date “President” watches – most likely on account of the extra difficult motion. Nonetheless, within the scheme of gold watches on bracelets, the Daytona continues to be a “respectable worth” when in comparison with a lot else accessible within the luxurious watch market. Metal Daytona watches could be the hippest round, however for the expertise Rolex appears to need for a lot of of its purchasers, gold is the way in which to take pleasure in this common timepiece basic. Value for the Rolex Daytona 119516LN in 18k white gold on the strap is $32,400 USD. The meteorite Daytona reference 116508 in 18k yellow gold on the bracelet is $39,000 USD, and the Rolex Daytona reference 116505 in 18k Everose gold has a retail value of $41,600 USD. Be taught extra on the Rolex web site right here.