Rolex Celebrates the Daytona at Baselworld with Diamonds and Sapphires

Diamond and Sapphire bedazzled Rolex Daytona revealed at Baselworld 2018  (Photos: Rolex.com)

Rolex didn't hold back with this Daytona, pulling all punches and making a statement as a Jeweler of the highest quality.  Rolex wants to dispel the myth that they use low quality gems or are a watchmaker first and gemologist second.  In this Daytona the combined 36 baguette cut sapphires in the circular formation along the bezel where the tachometer markings would normally go for a typical Daytona.  On the case itself, Rolex opted for 56 diamonds of several different sizes.  The gem artistry that went into the design of this piece is amazing.

They opted to go for 18 carat Everose (pink) gold for this Daytona which seems to sparkle and reflect many of the rainbow colors it is presenting.  On the dial, the rainbow sapphires are cut into hour markers and lay on the black dial near the outer ring where the sapphire matches the outer ring sapphire color.  So for example, the blue sapphire ranges from 8 o'clock to the 6 o'clock position both on the bezel and on the dial.  The impressive workmanship is doubled when you consider the gem selection that went into finding gems that would graduate the rainbow look.  The Reds melt into the Blues and Blues into Purples and so on.

The inner dial is a pink gold color which nicely matches the case and bracelet.  Although I wouldn't consider a gem-set Rolex as high on my list of wish-list items, I think this Daytona has made an impact on my viewpoint of Rolex being just a watchmaker of the highest order.  This piece clearly establishes them as gem-setting masters and gemologists of the highest order.  Clearly each gem had to be selected with stringent quality and then placed to reveal its beauty, color and sparkle.  Yet, being true to the watchmaking requirements, all gems must have strength and resistance to magnetic fields and shocks in order to qualify for inclusion on a Rolex.

It is with great difficulty that we must move onto the components of this timepiece.  The gems must take the top podium step in any discussion regarding this timepiece.  However, this isn't to undermine the Rolex artistry of the timepiece itself.  This Cosmograph Daytona is powered by a caliber 4130 self-winding movement which gives a power reserve of approximately 72 hours.  Even with all the gems on the case, it is only a 40 mm diameter.  Although it is unlikely that an owner would ever wear this piece in the ocean or in a swimming pool, the timepiece utilizes a triplock waterproofness system and is water resistant to 330 feet.

The bracelet is a Oyster with flat three-piece links.  It uses an Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink comfort extension links for easy adjustments.  On the dial, it has a center hour, minute and seconds hands in Everose gold.  It has a small seconds at 6 o'clock,  a 30 minute counter at 3 o'clock and a 12 hour counter at 9 o'clock.