Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 126518LN
This is it, the new Rolex watches have been released. And the big announcement comes in the shape of a brand new Rolex Cosmograph Daytona , updated for the 60th anniversary of the model. Visually, it seems to be just a simple update. Which it is in a way. But there’s more to discover than just the updated aesthetics. Turn the (platinum only) watch over and… there’s a new Calibre 4131, and it is there on sight, under a transparent back. Let’s discover the new Rolex Daytona 2023 Collection, including a new steel 126500LN model, but also two-tone, gold and platinum editions. Born in 1963, the Daytona has become an emblematic collection. In its previous shape, the 116520 and 116500LN references in steel were basically dating back 2000, when Rolex came up with the new in-house calibre 4130. The first major update in more than 2 decades is there.
Visually, the updated Rolex Cosmograph Daytona follows the same principles as recently updated models, with refined cases and shaper lines. Slightly more tapered, less rounded. But, the Daytona is still a Daytona, no doubt. The 100m water-resistant case, still with screw-down crown and screwed pushers, has retained its proportions of 40mm with a relatively thin profile of 11.90mm. Lug width is 20mm still too. Most models in this new collection come with a Cerachrom bezel, but one thing has changes, as we’re now talking about an insert with a thin metallic band around it, giving more contrast and a more aerial feel. This is visible on the new steel reference 126500LN, with its black insert outlined by a thin polished steel ring. Most models are still worn on a 3-link Oyster bracelet, closed by an Oysterlock clasp, with 5mm Easylink comfort extension. The dials of this new Rolex Daytona have been slightly redesigned too, with thinner rings for the sub-counters, more contrast between the sub-counters and the base dial, and markers that appear to be slightly thinner and sharper. For example, the Platinum Daytona 126506 features classic light blue dial, with chestnut brown ceramic bezel and rings on sub-dials, all appearing sharper, thinner, better defined. The same can be said about the white dial steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 126500LN. On the Everose Daytona 126505, the bright black dial is sunray-brushed with full sundust gold-colored counters. The new 2023 Rolex Daytona comes with an updated movement, Calibre 4131. Based on the already advanced 4130, it now features the patented Chronergy escapement, a blue Parachrom hairspring and retains the 4Hz frequency and 72h power reserve of the previous generation. The rotor has been redesigned, and the decoration has been refined – the bridges of calibre 4131 feature a Rolex Côtes de Genève dec- oration, which differs from the traditional Côtes de Genève by the addition of a slight polished groove between each band. The chronograph function is still engaged by a robust mechanism with a column wheel and vertical clutch. Importantly, on the platinum reference 126506, the movement features a solid gold rotor, and the movement is visible under a sapphire caseback… which is quite unexpected from Rolex Cosmograph Daytona . Too bad the gold and stainless steel Daytona don’t feature the same see-through back, since the new decoration of the movement seems rather appealing.
