At this year’s Baselworld, Rolex unveiled new‑colourway Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona watches, offered in 18‑carat yellow‑gold, 18‑carat white‑gold and 18‑carat Everose‑gold variants.
Yellow‑gold Model 116518LN
White‑gold version and Everose‑gold version
All three styles are fitted with the innovative Oysterflex high‑performance metal‑core rubber‑coated strap as well as Rolex‑patented black Cerachrom ceramic bezels.
Bezel Details
The high‑tech one‑piece Cerachrom ceramic bezel boasts multiple merits. It is corrosion‑resistant, scratch‑proof and colour‑fast under ultraviolet radiation. Extremely hard‑wearing and easy‑to‑read, the bezel’s numerals and markings are coated with a thin layer of 18‑carat gold or platinum via the PVD plating technique for enhanced tachymeter legibility. The integrated Cerachrom bezel helps fasten the crystal securely to the case, maintains water‑resistance, and pays tribute to the outstanding heritage of this legendary chronograph watch.
On the sun‑burst dial, the 12‑hour counter at the 9‑o‑clock marker, small‑seconds sub‑dial at 6‑o‑clock and 30‑minute chronograph counter at 3‑o‑clock set one another off, embodying the dial’s symmetrical charm. The central gold‑toned chronograph hands feature distinctive styling and, together with the three sub‑dials, interpret the sophisticated character of the timepiece.
Strap Details
The new‑generation Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is fitted with the Rolex‑developed, patented Oysterflex strap. This innovative design combines the sturdiness of metal bracelets alongside the flexibility, comfort and visual appeal of rubber straps. The strap features an ingenious construction: an ultra‑elastic metal blade serves as the inner core, encased by moulded high‑performance black rubber on the exterior. It stays resilient against diverse environmental conditions and delivers long‑lasting durability. An 18‑carat gold safety clasp prevents unintended opening. The clasp also incorporates Rolex’s patented Easylink extension link. This thoughtfully‑engineered extender permits wearers to lengthen the strap by roughly 5 mm for cosy‑fitted wear under all circumstances.
The bracelet of Ref.116500LN consists of solid‑made 904L‑steel links. The outer links receive a satin‑brushed finish while the centre links are polished. Its Oyster folding clasp comes with an Easylink extension link that enables convenient length adjustment by around 5 mm.
Both the steel‑cased and gold‑cased Daytona feature a 40‑millimetre case diameter, screw‑down chronograph pushers and the well‑known Triplock crown, and carry 100‑metre water‑resistance. Nevertheless, the steel Daytona adopts an integrally‑cast one‑piece 904L‑stainless‑steel case.
4130
In terms of movements, both new and old‑generation Daytona watches are powered by Rolex’s in‑house‑made automatic chronograph Cal.4130. Equipped with a column‑wheel mechanism and vertical clutch, the movement incorporates a blue Parachrom hairspring and delivers a 72‑hour power reserve. Rolex implements its proprietary superior‑grade chronometer certification with stricter standards than the COSC. Consequently, the Daytona achieves a daily rate accuracy of ‑2 to +2 seconds and comes with a five‑year warranty.
