Whew. This watch is freaking awesome. If you’ve been following the fine watch world recently, you’ve probably figured out that ceramic is a BIG deal right now! The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona debuted at the Bazelworld 2016 and has been on fire ever since. For the most part the watch still has the classic Daytona look, but Rolex took the same route that they used on the “Hulk” and “Batman” in recent years and added a black monobloc Cerachrom bezel. It makes a huge difference!
Let’s dig in on the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
The Roots
If this watch looks a little familiar, it should. Way before Rolex started pumping out Cerachrom bezels for their most popular watches, they used a black plexiglass insert on the ultra sought-after reference 6240 (pictured below).
Over the past few decades the Daytona has gone through several changes. Even with the modifications, the Daytona has always maintained the same general look and feel as a race-inspired watch with it’s tachymetric scale on the bezel and sub-dials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock.
The newest 2016 model is a continuation of that trend. The overall aesthetic of the watch is very similar to the Daytonas of the past, but adds a few upgrades to give this watch another gear (excuse the pun).
The Bezel and Dial
This is where all of the magic lies in the 2016 Daytona. It’s not the first time that Rolex utilized a ceramic bezel on the Daytona (remember the ivory or chocolate dial back in 2011?), but this is easily the classiest version to date. The Cerachrom is overall a great material that is very resistant to scratches or any other damage that comes from normal wear and tear.
Cerachrom compliments the scratch-proof sapphire crystal extremely well, and will help make this one of the cleanest looking watches in your collection for years to come. Another great feature: the numbers and markings of the tachymetric scale on the bezel are marked with platinum.
The dial carries the same three sub-dials that have made the Daytona so iconic, and for this watch is available in black or white (we have found that the white dial is the more popular of the two options).
The Movement
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona makes use of the Chronograph Calibre 4130 movement. We’ll get into the specifics, but what you need to know is that this movement is tough, accurate, and self-winding. Rolex completely reengineered this movement to make it an absolute workhorse.
The 4130 also features the blue parachrom hairspring, which is exceptionally resistant to temperature variations and magnetic fields. The movement has a 72 hour power reserve and a self-winding module.
The Technical Specs
Case: Oyster, 40 mm, steel
Diameter: 40mm
Material: 904L steel
Bezel: Black monobloc Cerachrom with engraved tachymetric scale
Winding Crown: Screw-down “Triplock”
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: Up to 100 feet
Bracelet: Oyster with three-piece links
Material: 904L Steel
Clasp: Folding Oysterlock safety clasp
Dial: White or Black
Our Final Thoughts
If you have been in the market for a Daytona but haven’t been sure which model to jump on – this is definitely a solid choice. This watch is definitely not an “in your face” type of Rolex, but it WILL get noticed and complimented. It’s also a very practical choice because of its ability to avoid scratches and chips on the bezel.
The Cerachrom will not fade over time and will maintain it’s new look for much longer than older Daytona models. That along with the 904L steel that Rolex uses for the oyster case and bracelet make this Daytona a solid daily wear.
If you are interested in purchasing your own Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, give us a call or fill out the contact form below. Check out our Facebook page for box openings and watch reviews by our in-house watch expert Sergio Nuncio!
