By Jovan Krstevski
Seems like this year is an important year for all high-end watchmakers enabling them to release beautiful timepieces like never before. Rolex has updates for all its incredible collections and in line with this statement, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona will see three new versions in 18 ct yellow, white or Everose gold. This watch comes on comfortable Oysterflex rubber straps in elastomer reinforced with a metal blade, this is one way of ensuring that these watches are indeed sporty and tough yet subtle enough for regular wear. If there is one thing that truly defines any Oyster watches, it is no other than being absolutely waterproof. This is made possible by perfect harmony between the watch elements, the case, the crystal, the caseback and of course the movement itself. Not to mention, the Cosmograph Daytona is also covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015 coupled with an international five-year guarantee.
Okay so let us jump to the case design of the new Cosmograph Daytona. At first look, you can’t help but appreciate its robustness yet it still has enough room for one’s preference for proportion and elegance. This tough built allows it to withstand 100 meters (330 feet) of water pressure. Being an Oyster, its caseback is hermetically screwed down with a special tool so only Rolex guys can service this watch, it’s a pity because I really want to see some display for the movement, oh well maybe on future Daytona releases albeit there is always a reason behind this choice. Plus the middle case is built from a solid block of 18 ct gold adding more value to an already impressive case design. Impressively, I like its dimension of a mere 40 mm for this grade. It packs plenty of goodies like its ceramic bezel which is engraved with a useful tachymetric scale for measuring average speeds of up to 400 units of distance (mph/kph). Its perfect legibility is the result of the deposition of a thin layer of 18 ct gold or platinum in the numerals and graduations via a PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process, now what’s this for again, nice one Rolex. Plus the Daytona’s chronograph pushers screw down like the winding crown when not in use.
As for the lovely dial, I like its champagne color although I’m more inclined to say its sunray finish and black snailed counters do it for me. This is a Daytona so precision doesn’t stop at the movement alone, it also flows to the minute details of the dial. The hour markers use highly legible Chromalight appliques n 18 ct yellow gold with black PVD coating, it’s one of a kind design. Plus take the hands made of 18 ct yellow gold with chromalight, seems too much for legibility’s sake but again this is the Daytona.
At the heart of the watch is a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement Calibre 4130 featuring a Perpetual rotor. Most importantly, it now features an updated Parachrom hairspring using proprietary technologies. Basically it uses an exclusive alloy resulting to being insensitive to magnetic fields allowing the Parachrom hairspring to withstand temperature variations and remain 10 times precise in case of shocks. There’s also a Rolex overcoil ensuring its regularity in any position. All these technologies gives the new Daytona an amazing power reserve of approximately 72 hours, not bad at all.
Finally, the Daytona comes on Oysterflex strap. Its comfort and ruggedness is very pleasing. It may look like an elastomer outside but underneath is a tough superelastic metal blade. In short, it’s a comfortable wear. Its clasp varies with an 18 ct yellow, white or Everose gold Oysterlock safety clasp helpful in preventing accidental openings plus it comes with useful Rolex patented Easylink for extension purposes. For more info, please visit rolex.com
