Blue Monday: The Latest Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona

The beloved Daytona commemorates its 60th anniversary in an icy blue variant, with an exhibition case back that showcases a new caliber.

Photos courtesy by Rolex

Upon our initial observation of the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona at Watches and Wonders Geneva earlier this year, we deemed it the most distinguished piece in Rolex's collection. This implies it will be among the most discussed watches globally this year. Upon scanning the pages of our summer issue of World of Watches, one would start to believe this assertion holds validity. In summary, it is not — while the 60th anniversary of the world's most significant chronograph is celebrated, the watch garners attention on the stage, while the online commentary focuses on two vibrant counterparts.

The world has experienced this previously, around the 50th anniversary of the Cosmograph Daytona. The exclusive platinum edition of the 2013 chronograph ultimately demonstrated significant influence. Consider this when examining the 2023 edition, which features an extraordinary display caseback, a first for the collection. The platinum model, reference 126506, mostly pertains to the 2013 model, as the aforementioned exhibition caseback facilitates discussion of the new calibre 4131. This new caliber incorporates the Rolex Chronergy escapement and several minor enhancements (allegedly to the self-winding mechanism), however the official specifications remain unaltered.

The watch maintains all its hallmark features and does not incorporate a date mechanism or any significant alterations. This new reference possesses several distinct elements, some of which are unexpected. Space is indeed a domain we may explore, as the official specifications indicate 40mm, however the watch appears larger. The new collection manipulates spaces throughout, including the subdials, which now include significantly smaller tracks. The case is more slender than the previous generation; yet, the specifications do not mention this detail.

Photos courtesy by Rolex

The visual and tactile alterations will be apparent solely to individuals who have utilized and manipulated both the newest reference and its predecessor. Having experience with multiple iterations of this renowned chronograph will enhance your understanding for the Daytona's evolutionary progression, regardless of your preferred features. If you are entirely unfamiliar with Daytona, this will be inconsequential. Indeed, certain aspects will become more transparent as Rolex progresses towards standardizing features of the Daytona, particularly the symmetry of the lugs across all variants.

The bezel ring, a distinctly recognizable alteration for 2023, is uniformly present across the five current model references. This ring is composed of the same material as the case; however, models featuring bezels made of precious metals will not possess this characteristic. In its deployment, the bezel is entirely composed of Cerachrom rather than being an insert; it has only acquired a frame, potentially for protective purposes, though this is purely conjecture on our part.