The emblematic style and technical performance of the Cosmograph Daytona have cemented its iconic status well beyond the motor racing circuits. To celebrate the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, Rolex presents an original version of its legendary chronograph.

Rolex is unveiling a variant of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona created in honour of the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance motor race. As the Official Timepiece of the event since 2001, Rolex wanted to celebrate this symbolic anniversary with a special version whose design and movement specifically evoke this legendary race.

Crafted in 18 ct white gold, this new watch sports a Cerachrom bezel in black ceramic edged with a fine band, also in 18 ct white gold. On the tachymetric scale, the number 100 in red ceramic is a reminder of the race’s centenary. The dial features counters whose graphic design is inspired by a traditional Rolex dial. The Oyster case is fitted with a transparent back and an Oyster bracelet.

This original watch is equipped with calibre 4132. This adaptation of calibre 4131 makes it possible to count the hours using the chronograph function over twenty-four hours instead of the model’s usual twelve. Calibre 4132 incorporates the Chronergy escapement and Paraflex shock absorbers. It also features new finishes and decorations, including bridges embellished with Rolex Côtes de Genève – the brand’s reinterpretation of a well-known decoration in watchmaking. The cut-out oscillating weight in 18 ct yellow gold is equipped with an optimized ball bearing.

Like all Rolex watches, this special version of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.

Launched in 1963, the Cosmograph Daytona was designed to meet the needs of professional racing drivers. Fitted with a tachymetric bezel and a high-performance mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex, this now legendary chronograph is the instrument of choice for measuring time intervals and determining average speeds.

Through its name and functions, the Cosmograph Daytona is forever linked to the world of motor sport and, 60 years after its launch, continues to boast unparalleled status among sport chronographs.

Rolex played a pioneering role in the development of special ceramics for creating monobloc bezels and bezel inserts. Not only are these materials virtually scratchproof, their colours are also of a rare intensity and are resistant to environmental effects. In addition, thanks to its chemical composition, the high-tech ceramic is inert and cannot corrode. Rolex has developed exclusive expertise and innovative manufacturing methods that grant it complete independence in the production of these ceramic components.

The new variant of the Cosmograph Daytona features a Cerachrom bezel in black ceramic. The recessed graduations, numerals and inscriptions on the tachymetric scale are moulded then coated with a thin layer of platinum via a PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process – apart from the number 100, which is filled with red ceramic.

A paragon of robustness and reliability, the 40 mm Oyster case on this new version of the Cosmograph Daytona is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). Its middle case is crafted from a solid block of 18 ct white gold. Featuring sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, the transparent case back offers the opportunity to admire the decorations on the movement and the pivoting of the oscillating weight. Edged with fine fluting, the case back is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The Triplock winding crown, fitted with a triple waterproofness system and protected by an integral crown guard, screws down securely against the case, along with the chronograph pushers. The crystal is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire and benefits from an anti-reflective coating. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimal protection for the movement it houses.

The new version of the Cosmograph Daytona is equipped with calibre 4132, a chronograph movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex, a variant of calibre 4131 unveiled in the spring of this year. A distillation of technology, this self-winding mechanical movement delivers out-standing performance in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability. It incorporates a chronograph function with a reduced number of components, thereby also 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. The bridges of calibre 4132 feature a Rolex Côtes de Genève decoration, which differs from the traditional Côtes de Genève by the addition of a slight polished groove between each band.

Calibre 4132 allows the watch to display the hours of the chronograph function in a twenty-four-hour format − an unprecedented technical characteristic. This movement also includes the patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with reliability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, this escapement is resistant to strong magnetic fields. The movement is fitted with a blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy. The hairspring offers great stability in the face of temperature variations as well as high resistance to shocks. It is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is mounted on the Rolex-designed, patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance. The oscillating weight is fitted with an optimized ball bearing.

Calibre 4132 is equipped with a self-winding system via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 4132 extends to approximately 72 hours.


On the new version of the Cosmograph Daytona, the hours of the chronograph function are counted over twenty-four hours – instead of the model’s usual twelve – by means of an additional, patented mechanism made up of seven components, which could be likened to a differential redesigned by Rolex. This gear reduction system, which in technical terms is called an epicyclic reducer, halves the rotational speed of the gear train that turns the 24-hour hand. An excellent illustration of Rolex engineering expertise, the morphology of the device enabled it to be integrated without the slightest change to the movement’s architecture. In fact, the mechanism simply replaces a transmission wheel, and its operation does not affect the performance of calibre 4132 in any way.


The new version of the Cosmograph Daytona is fitted on an Oyster bracelet. Developed at the end of the 1930s, this three-piece link bracelet remains the most universal in the Oyster Perpetual collection and is known for its robustness.

The Oyster bracelet of this new watch is equipped with the Oysterlock folding safety clasp, which prevents accidental opening. It features the Easylink comfort extension link, developed by the brand, which allows the wearer to easily adjust the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm. It also includes ceramic inserts – designed by Rolex and patented – inside the links to enhance its flexibility on the wrist and its longevity.


Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, following the official certification of the movements by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The in-house certification tests apply to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is of the order of −2 /+2 seconds per day – the rate deviation tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is significantly smaller than that accepted by COSC for official certification of the movement alone.

The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

References	:	Case 126529 LN • Bracelet 78HA09 Oyster
Category	:	Oyster Perpetual Professional
Case	:	18 ct white gold Oyster (monobloc middle case, screw-down case back, winding crown and pushers)
Safety	:	Integral crown guard
Diameter	:	40 mm
Thickness	:	12.20 mm
Lug width	:	20 mm
Middle case	:	18 ct white gold Polished finish
Bezel	:	Monobloc Cerachrom in black ceramic edged with a band of 18 ct white gold, with tachymetric scale Moulded, recessed graduations, numerals and inscriptions coated with platinum via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition)
Case back	:	18 ct white gold, solid Screw-down with fine fluting
Winding crown	:	Triplock in 18 ct white gold, screw-down, triple waterproofness system
Crystal	:	Scratch-resistant sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Water resistance	:	100 metres (330 feet)
Movement	:	Calibre 4132, Manufacture Rolex Mechanical chronograph movement with column wheel and vertical clutch Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor Rolex Côtes de Genève decoration Oscillating weight in 18 ct yellow gold
Precision	:	−2/+2sec./day, aftercasing
Functions	:	Centre hour and minute hands Small seconds hand at 6 o’clock Chronograph via centre seconds hand 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock 24-hour counter at 9 o’clock Stop-seconds for exact time setting
Oscillator	:	Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz) Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring Rolex overcoil Large balance wheel with variable inertia High-precision regulating via four gold Microstella nuts Traversing balance bridge High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
Escapement	:	Chronergy with optimized energy efficiency Paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus pallet fork and escape wheel
Jewelling	:	47 rubies
Power reserve	:	Approximately 72 hours
Dial	:	Bright black, gloss, sunray finish Intense white counters Hour markers in 18 ct white gold, highly legible Chromalight (long-lasting luminescence, blue glow) Hands in 18 ct white gold, black lacquer marking on hour and minute hands Highly legible Chromalight (long-lasting luminescence, blue glow) except for centre seconds hand and counter hands
Certification	:	Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing) International five-year guarantee
Bracelet	:	Oyster, three-piece solid links 18 ct white gold, polished centre links, satin-finished outer links with polished edges, ceramic inserts
Buckle	:	Oysterlock folding safety clasp Easylink comfort extension link(approx. 5 mm)