Rolex celebrates racing milestones
The Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona marks its 60th birthday and centenary of Le Mans
THE OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA – Rolex’s most recognised watch – has three reasons to celebrate this year.
First, the legendary chronograph designed for professional motor racing – which was launched in 1963 – turns 60. That anniversary also coincides with another key milestone – the 100th year of the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race, of which Rolex has been the “Official Timepiece” since 2001. And closer to home, Singapore plays host to Formula 1 from Sep 15 to Sep 18 – Rolex has been a global partner and the official timepiece of F1 for the past 10 years.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the Cosmograph Daytona, Rolex ensures the legend lives on by revisiting the entire range. The watch now sports a new symmetrical case, a metal-edged bezel, a reconfigured dial layout and new improved Rolex-made automatic movements.
Five new versions were unveiled and rolled out: a 950 platinum model with a transparent case-back in sapphire, the first in an Oyster Perpetual model; an 18 ct Everose gold piece; a yellow Rolesor model (Oystersteel and yellow gold); an Oystersteel variant in a white or black lacquer dial; and a yellow gold version with an Oysterflex bracelet.
The dial receives new graphic balance, and harmonious colour combinations that accentuate the contrast between the dial and the counters. The Oyster case has been redesigned to allow light to bounce on a broader lug and case sides, enhancing the chronograph’s profile. With its thickness reduced by 0.5 mm to 11.9 mm, the new case is even slimmer than most modern self-winding chronograph cases, which are about 14 mm thick, or more. On versions with a Cerachrom bezel, the bezel is edged with a thin polished band, made of the same metal as the middle case.
From this year, the Cosmograph Daytona is equipped with calibre 4131. This new chronograph movement, an evolution of calibre 4130, incorporates a number of the major innovations that Rolex has brought to its movements, including the Chronergy escapement. Particular attention has been paid to aesthetics. The calibre features a cut-out oscillating weight and completely new finishes – notably on the bridges, which are embellished with Rolex Côtes de Genève, the brand’s reinterpretation of a well-known decoration in watchmaking.
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To commemorate Le Mans’ centenary is a special version of the Cosmograph Daytona with a design and movement inspired by the legendary race. The 40 mm, 18 ct white gold watch, including the Oyster bracelet, is topped by a Cerachrom tachymetric bezel in black ceramic.
Standing out against the bright black dial are intense white counters whose graphic design is inspired by a traditional Rolex dial, identified by the square tip of the lollipop hash marks on the sub-dials.
The standout feature of the centennial edition is the “100” red ceramic number on the tachymetric scale. A transparent case-back – the second in the Oyster Perpetual collection – reveals the movement with an oscillating weight in 18 ct yellow gold (present only in this model and the platinum version). The “Le Mans” Cosmograph Daytona also has an exclusive movement created just for it. Calibre 4132, which has an extended 72 hours of power reserve, is a modification of calibre 4131, and is made for the watch’s chronograph counter to run a full 24 hours – instead of the usual 12 – in tune with the 24-hour Le Mans race.
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Price: S$71,700 (special edition of the Cosmograph Daytona celebrating the centenary of Le Mans). Prices start from S$21,050 for the new Cosmograph Daytona.The platinum model (with diamonds) is priced at S$117,400.
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