The Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is a watch with a long and veritable history. Coming from the crown itself, is probably a good starting point. But, here is a watch that has been carving its own destiny for more than 50 years. Rolex is one of the best-known brands that has an inseparable link with the world of motorsport. The Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona sums up this association.
Hans Wilsdorf founded Rolex in 1905. Around the same time, the German and American automobile industries were on the rise. Thus, began a parallel that would merge fine automobiles and fine watches and forge new relationships.
Over the years, Rolex introduced new versions of the watch. With each evolution of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, you can be sure of a blend of high technology and sleek aesthetics, that pay tribute to the heritage of this legendary chronograph.
The name of the model comes from the city of Daytona, Florida. This city is also a legend in itself. Today, Daytona is considered to be the “World Center of Automobile Racing”. The creation of the Daytona International Speedway in 1959 heralded new high standards for racing tracks. This innovative approach brought about the “Rolex 24 at Daytona”, earlier known as “24 hours of Daytona”, the 24-hour car endurance race, a yearly event. The first edition of this race, under the name of “Daytona Continental”, took place in 1962, a year before the launch of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. Thus, the race and the watch were practically contemporaries with their destinies inextricably linked.
After the rainbow inspired bezel, Rolex dropped another unique take on the celebrated racing chronograph at Baselworld 2019. A sparkling, mysterious 18 ct yellow gold timepiece. You either love it or you don’t. The paved black lacquer dial contrasts beautifully with the champagne-colour chronograph counters intertwined with black lacquer and diamonds. The emblematic tachymetric scale is now replaced with 36 trapeze-cut diamonds. And that’s not it. Completing the dial with elegance are hour markers in the form of eight diamonds in 18 ct yellow gold settings, and Arabic numerals 15, 30 and 45, also in 18 ct yellow gold, set at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock respectively. A paragon of robustness and reliability, the Oyster case of the Cosmograph Daytona is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet).
The case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The winding crown, fitted with the Triplock triple waterproofness system and protected by an integral crown guard, screws down securely against the case, along with the chronograph pushers.
The new version of the Cosmograph Daytona is equipped with calibre 4130, a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement developed and manufactured by Rolex. The chronograph function has a reduced number of components, thereby enhancing the movement’s reliability. It is engaged by a robust mechanism with a column wheel and vertical clutch, allowing an instantaneous and extremely precise start. Within this consummate demonstration of technology lies a blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in an exclusive paramagnetic alloy that makes it up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. The blue Parachrom hairspring is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring its regularity in any position. Calibre 4130 is equipped with a self-winding module via a Perpetual rotor and offers a power reserve of approximately 72 hours.
Like all Rolex watches, the new Cosmograph Daytona carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.