Today, we are reporting live from Baselworld 2016 with the biggest news many of you were dreaming of. Rolex is introducing a new version of its Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in 904L steel, with a monobloc Cerachrom bezel, developed and patented by Rolex, in black ceramic. This latest evolution is a blend of high technology and sleek aesthetics, and pays tribute to the heritage of this legendary chronograph. The black bezel is reminiscent of the 1965 model that was fitted with a black Plexiglas bezel insert. The new Cosmograph Daytona carries the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015, which ensures singular performance on the wrist. The watch is available with black or white dial.
Created by Rolex in 1963, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is a watch born to race. It has established an extraordinary track record in the world of motor sport thanks to its reliability and performance. Known simply as the “Daytona”, the watch has risen to the rank of an icon as one of the best known chronographs in the world.
A key part of the model’s identity is the bezel engraved with a tachymetric scale for measuring average speeds of up to 400 miles or kilometres per hour. The new monobloc Cerachrom bezel in high-tech ceramic offers a number of advantages: it is corrosion resistant, virtually scratchproof and the colour is unaffected by UV rays. This extremely durable bezel also offers an exceptionally legible tachymetric scale, thanks to the deposition of a thin layer of platinum in the numerals and graduation via a PVD —Physical Vapour Deposition— process. The monobloc Cerachrom bezel is made in a single piece and holds the crystal firmly in place on the middle case, ensuring waterproofness.
The Cosmograph Daytona is equipped with calibre 4130, a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Its architecture, a composite of Rolex technology, was completely re-engineered: the number of components for the chronograph function was reduced significantly, thereby enhancing its reliability. The robust chronograph is engaged by a mechanism with a column wheel and vertical clutch, allowing an instantaneous and extremely precise start. The oscillator, the true heart of the watch, has a blue Parachrom hairspring patented and manufactured by Rolex in an exclusive alloy. Insensitive to magnetic fields, the Parachrom hairspring offers great stability in the face of temperature variations and remains up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. It features a Rolex overcoil, ensuring its regularity in any position. Calibre 4130 is equipped with a self-winding module featuring a Perpetual rotor and offers a power reserve of approximately 72 hours.
More live pictures coming up this week.
Sticker Price CHF 11,800 Swiss Francs —roughly $13,000 USD. For more info on Rolex click here.
