Tom Austin
My relationship with Rolex is relatively long. I was 37 when I was writing this and had been obsessed with watches since I was around 4 years old, so it was quite a year when the crown appeared on my radar. I say I was an avid “lovers” of the time, but in reality it was much purer. As a child, I didn’t care about brand, history, value, or size. I was wearing what I loved. I vividly remember the charm of things I can take anywhere. It didn’t matter how it looked – as long as I thought it was cool, that was enough. My parents found it strange that I spent more time looking at watches in catalogs and shops than toys.
I’m interested in maintaining my wrist watch, so about ten years have passed and I have challenged a big, wide world with my first part-time job. It was not uncommon for young people to work on Saturdays, even at 14, as I was back then. All of the people I worked with were in my late 20s and early 30s. Through my simple eyes, they were the coolest people in the world at the time. They seemed to have succeeded, and yes, they had a watch to prove it. They competed, their latest acquisitions, usually some stainless steel Rolex, and forever curious, I remember asking lightly if I could hold it, and I was immediately hooked. From that moment on, I had one clear goal: I wanted to wear a Rolex on my wrist.
Then there was a turning point. One of the men picked up a stainless steel Daytona. All I know now is 116520 with a black dial. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen: a silver subdial, a refined bezel that I didn’t know what it was for, but I knew it looked great, and of course the response from his peers knew this was something special. And like that, the idea submitted itself to my brain – itching that takes nearly 25 years to scratch.
Today, I no longer work there, but my passion for watches remains. It took me until my 30th birthday to be able to buy my first Rolex, but it was just a stone to squeal towards the clock that would take another 7 years to get. Yes, Daytona’s waiting list is really long.
The journey is finally over (or begins…)
Sometimes they say you shouldn’t meet your hero, and it is often said with a watch, the pursuit is greater than actually getting a watch, and that is not full of the expectations you will have on it during build-up. I would like to share a pessimistic story that 23 years later, it could not be itched. Alas, at one point, this is definitely not the case. Finally, then when I got the opportunity to own it.
Nittigritis
In 2023, the introduction of a new Daytona was seen, and in typical Rolex fashion, it was a subtle reshuffle of familiar design ingredients that have become iconic from the start. You can’t expect dramatic changes. New ref. The case size of the 126500 has been subtly increased to a more accurate depiction of 40mm, along with the lug balance. This is probably the most noticeable change. Rolex is to throw away the offset lug in favor of a more balanced, symmetrical profile.
The dial has also been tweaked. Reduces the thickness of the sub-dial ring and makes time markers closer to the thickness of the 16520 Zenith Daytona. Overall, this allows for a little more space on the dial and readability is a general critique of the previous generation. This also had subtle side effects that seemed very cleverly to make watch wear much larger than the 116500 reference that preceded it. Many felt that the last Daytona was worn slightly smaller for a modern chronograph. And while Rolex clearly opposed, the case dimensions were almost identical – they handled it quietly with a dial that puts a big touch on it.
The case itself is completely different from the previous model. I have always loved the softer edges of Daytona, but thankfully they remain. The lug is now a little longer, first in steel, and the model includes the “foot” under the lug. This is a design queue previously reserved for the precious metal version. Balancing from each side is a welcome addition to me as it balances the entire watch. Yes, it increases the size of the wear of the watch, but its new symmetry brings equipoise to a watch with a large pusher protruding from one side.
The bezel remains ceramic. But in a rather non-Rolex-like way, they nodded in the past by introducing steel rings around the outer edges that refer to models such as the 6263. Most ceramic bezels in Rolex’s professional lineup are set in metallic rings, and with references of 116, I always felt a slight shortage. The new bezel surround beautifully finishes the bezel and frames the front view of the watch in a very different way than before. But I’m not entirely sure how to read the Tatimeter scale yet, but in reality I’ve learned that it’s not important.
The watch, wrapped inside, features an all-new movement, caliber 4131, reduces the number of components from the outgoing 4130, adds a Rolex Cronegee escape, and adds more ball bearings to the rotor. Importantly (or maybe not that big for the steel model), the 4131 movement was treated to some cosmetic improvements, with the addition of a finishing Cote de Geneve on the bridge. However, in typical Rolex fashion, you will only see it in the Platinum and Le Mans editions, thanks to the Rolex sapphire caseback.
Being used to other steel Rolex sports models, I first discovered that the Daytona was surprisingly light on my wrist. But in the coming weeks and months, I began to realize that this was actually due to design. The new Daytona is well beyond the most comfortable specialized models in this range, as we have realised that the GMT-Master II or Submariner is actually very top-heavy and relatively speaking, relatively, relatively speaking, both of which are relatively speaking. The 126500 is just 11.9mm thick and is fully weighted, significantly more comfortable than most watches in its class, and is worn with an incredible balance.
Wear experience
Of course, in many respects, everything I outline is expected. It’s a Rolex Daytona. Poorly acceptable is unlikely to be accepted, and the care and attention that the crown places on these watch wear experiences is beyond explanation. The most important aspect of Daytona is how it makes you feel. This is where I get me back to the start. There, he finally met this legend of construction, making his 23-year journey possible. Owning Daytona has so far satisfied my inventive desires and in doing so I have raised doubts on the rest of my collection.
Unlike the GMT-Master II and Submariner, Daytona’s past is a bit vague. If he had reached the moon instead of the Omega Speedmaster, history might have told us something else. Therefore, it seems that the appeal of watches comes from its history and its source is dull. Daytona’s background and history were undoubtedly less manufactured or glorious than most, but it can reach legendary status in the world of watches, mainly thanks to the Rolex marketing genius. Does this mean that we are all being fooled? I prefer to argue that the watch speaks for itself, and while pure hype actually surrounds Daytona, it must be said that it all is aside, and this is a bold statement, and the watch has a strong argument if not the biggest modern sports watch ever produced.
The reality is that the new Daytona has recipes that make every watch great, and you can check almost every feature set with positive comments. The case is worn very well. Dimensions, weight and balance are all spots. The dial is easier to read than before. Certainly, it’s still a chronograph – it won’t surpass the readability chart, but it’s a clear step forward from previous models. The dial details have also been developed and mature.
This move is an improvement on what was before one of the most amazing mass-produced chronograph moves you can buy. The bracelet is typical of a Rolex Oyster and is mostly considered one of the best in the game. If I had to criticise it, I have to say that the Gridel Rock Adjuster would be the icing on the cake, but that’s not an escapee yet for me. Also, as always, the refined central link is a scratch magnet, but it looks fantastic.
It would be very easy to read this with the view that it is biased, and of course I am going to say these things as the owner of Daytona. There are many people who dislike Daytonas for multiple reasons. But I argue that the level of hype around the clock, especially over the past five to six years, has clouded critics’ judgment. Remove the hype, Daytona is simply an extraordinary watch, both in what it is and how it feels. And for me, it was all worth 23 years.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126500 Prices and availability
The Rolex Daytona 126500 is available (in theory) from a Rolex certified dealer. Price: $25,200 (as reviewed)
Brand Rolex Model Cosmograph Daytona Reference Number 126500LN-0002 (Review) Case Dimension 40mm (d) x 11.9mm
