Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126500

Tom Austin

My relationship with Rolex is a comparatively lengthy one. I’m 37 years outdated as I write this, and having been into watches because the tender age of about 4, it was fairly a couple of years earlier than the Crown made its method onto my radar. I say that like I used to be an avid ‘fanatic’ again then – however in reality, it was one thing a lot purer. As a child, I didn’t care about model, historical past, worth, or measurement – simply whether or not I assumed it seemed cool. I wore what I beloved. I vividly keep in mind the enchantment of one thing I might take in every single place with me. It didn’t matter what it seemed like – so long as I assumed it was cool, that was sufficient. My mother and father discovered it odd that I’d spend extra time taking a look at watches in catalogues and retailers than I’d toys.

Round a decade had handed since my curiosity in retaining a watch on my wrist started, and I ventured into the massive, large world with my first part-time job. Again then, it wasn’t unusual for kids to have Saturday jobs, even on the age of 14, as I used to be on the time. The blokes I used to be working with have been all of their late 20s and early 30s; by my naive eyes, they have been the best guys on the planet on the time. They appeared profitable, and sure, they’d the watches to show it. They might compete and showcase their newest acquisitions, often some chrome steel Rolex, and without end inquisitive, I keep in mind cheekily asking if I might maintain one, and I used to be immediately hooked. From that second, I had one clear aim: I needed to put on a Rolex on my wrist.

Then, there was the turning level: one of many guys picked up a stainless-steel Daytona, what I now know to be a 116520, with a black dial. It was the best factor I’d ever seen: the silver sub-dials, the polished bezel that I had no concept what it was for, however I knew it seemed superior, and naturally, the response from his friends meant I knew this was one thing particular. And identical to that, the concept lodged itself in my mind – an itch that might take almost 25 years to scratch.

At the moment, I’m now not working there, however my ardour for watches stays. It took me till my thirtieth birthday to have the ability to buy my first Rolex, however that was only a stepping stone in the direction of a watch that might take an additional seven years to acquire. Sure, the ready checklist for a Daytona actually is that lengthy.

The journey lastly ends (or begins…)

Typically, they are saying you shouldn’t meet your heroes, and it’s typically mentioned with watches, the pursuit is bigger than truly getting the watch and that it invariably fails to satisfy the expectations you bestow upon it in the course of the build-up. I’d like to inform you the pessimistic story that it too was the case with me and the Daytona, that after twenty-three years, it didn’t scratch the itch. Alas, for as soon as, that is positively not the case, when, lastly, in spite of everything that point, I bought the prospect to personal one.

The nitty-gritty

2023 noticed the introduction of a brand new Daytona, and in typical Rolex trend, it was a delicate reshuffling of the acquainted design elements which have turn into iconic from the beginning. We will by no means count on dramatic adjustments, and what we bought was obtained effectively. The brand new ref. 126500’s case measurement has been subtly elevated to a extra correct depiction of 40mm, together with balancing the lugs. It’s most likely essentially the most noticeable change: Rolex ditching the offset lugs in favour of a extra balanced, symmetrical profile.

The dial has additionally obtained a delicate tweak: decreasing the thickness of the subdial rings and sharpening the hour markers to extra carefully resemble these from a 16520 ‘Zenith Daytona’. General, this enables for just a little extra space on the dial, with legibility being a typical critique of the earlier era. This has additionally, fairly cleverly, had a delicate side-effect in showing to make the watch put on ever-so-slightly bigger than the 116500 reference that preceded it. Many felt the final Daytona wore barely small for a contemporary chronograph. And whereas Rolex clearly disagreed – the case dimensions are nearly equivalent – they quietly addressed it with a dial that wears a contact bigger.

The case itself is kind of totally different from the earlier fashions. I’ve at all times beloved the softer edges of the Daytona, and fortunately, they continue to be. The lugs are just a little longer now, and for the primary time in metal, the mannequin contains the “ft” beneath the lugs – a design cue beforehand reserved for treasured steel variations. The balancing out of every facet is a welcome addition for me, because it balances the watch as an entire. Sure, that does improve the scale of how the watch wears, however its newfound symmetry brings equipoise to a watch with massive pushers projecting from one facet.

The bezel stays ceramic; nevertheless, in a somewhat un-Rolex-like trend, they gave a nod to the previous by introducing a metal ring across the periphery, referencing fashions such because the 6263. Most ceramic bezels in Rolex’s Skilled line-up are set right into a metallic ring, and on the 116 reference, the shortage of that at all times made it really feel barely unfinished to me. The brand new bezel encompass finishes the bezel off fantastically and frames the entrance view of the watch in a really totally different method from earlier than. I’m nonetheless not completely positive easy methods to learn a tachymeter scale, although, however I’ve realized that, actually, it form of doesn’t matter.

Encased inside, the watch options an all-new motion, the calibre 4131, decreasing the variety of elements from the outgoing 4130, including Rolex’s Chronergy escapement, and the addition of extra ball bearings within the rotor. Importantly (or maybe not so considerably within the case of the metal mannequin), the 4131 motion has been handled to some beauty enhancements, including côtes de Genève ending to the bridges. In typical Rolex trend, although, you’ll solely see that on the platinum and Le Mans editions, because of their rare-for-Rolex sapphire case backs.

Getting used to different metal Rolex sports activities fashions, I initially discovered the Daytona to be surprisingly gentle on the wrist. Nevertheless, within the coming weeks and months, I started to be taught that that is truly by design. The brand new Daytona is much and past essentially the most snug Skilled mannequin within the vary, as I got here to understand that, comparatively, a GMT-Grasp II or a Submariner are each, in reality, fairly top-heavy, comparatively talking. The 126500 wears with exceptional stability, simply 11.9mm thick, completely weighted, and noticeably extra snug than most watches in its class.

The wear and tear expertise

In fact, in some ways, all of what I simply outlined is to be anticipated. It’s a Rolex Daytona; it’s unlikely to be obtained poorly, and the care and a focus the Crown places into the damage expertise of those watches is past description. An important facet of any Daytona is the way it makes you are feeling. That is the place it brings me proper again to the beginning, the place lastly assembly this legend-in-the-making has fulfilled a 23-year journey. Proudly owning the Daytona has certainly happy that unique want up to now, and in doing so, it has made me query the remainder of my assortment, to the purpose the place I’ve discovered myself merely not discovering the time to put on anything.

In contrast to the GMT-Grasp II and even the Submariner, the Daytona’s previous is just a little fuzzier. Had it made it to the Moon as a substitute of the Omega Speedmaster, historical past would possibly’ve advised a special story. So, to say that the watch’s attract comes from its historical past and provenance appears obtuse. The Daytona’s background and historical past have been arguably extra manufactured or much less superb than most, and but, it nonetheless manages to succeed in legendary standing within the watch world, largely because of Rolex’s advertising and marketing genius. Does this imply that we’re all being fooled? I choose to argue that the watch speaks for itself, and whereas unadulterated hype certainly surrounds the Daytona, it have to be mentioned that every one that apart, and this can be a daring assertion, the watch has a robust argument for being one in all, if not the best modern sports activities watch ever produced.

The truth is that the brand new Daytona has the recipe that makes any watch nice, and it manages to tick off just about each characteristic set with a constructive comment. The case wears extremely effectively: the size, weight, and stability are all spot on. The dial is extra legible than earlier than. Certain, it’s nonetheless a chronograph – it’s by no means going to high any readability charts – however it’s a transparent step ahead from the earlier mannequin. The dial particulars are additionally extra developed and mature.

The motion is as soon as once more an enchancment of what was earlier than one of the vital very good mass-produced chronograph actions you should buy. The bracelet is typical of any Rolex Oyster and is regarded by most as being among the best within the sport. If I needed to critique that, I’d should say {that a} Glidelock adjuster can be the icing on the cake, however it’s nonetheless not a dealbreaker for me. Additionally, as standard, the polished centre hyperlinks are a scratch magnet, however they do look incredible.

It could be all too simple to learn this with a view that it’s biased, and naturally, I’m going to say these items as a Daytona proprietor. There are many individuals on the market who dislike Daytonas for a number of causes. Nevertheless, I’d argue that the extent of hype across the watch, particularly over the past 5-6 years, has clouded critics’ judgment. Strip away the hype, and the Daytona is just an distinctive watch, each in what it’s and in the way it makes you are feeling. And for me, it was price each a type of 23 years.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126500 pricing and availability

The Rolex Daytona 126500 is (theoretically) accessible now from Rolex authorised sellers. Worth: A$25,200 (as reviewed)