Gold Souk, Deira
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (Rainbow), reference 116598RBOW

Rolex

Cosmograph Daytona (Rainbow)

Ref. 116598RBOW

On requestSourced to order

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Case40mm 18k yellow gold
DialBlack, gold crystal subdials
BezelRainbow sapphires
MovementAutomatic calibre 4130
BraceletOyster

The Cosmograph Daytona has been the racing chronograph of record since 1963, and the Rainbow is the one Rolex built for a jeweller's window rather than a pit lane. Graded sapphires around the bezel, diamond set lugs, and a waiting list that has never shortened.

This Rolex Cosmograph Daytona wears a 40mm 18k yellow gold case with a black dial and gold crystal subdials. Automatic calibre 4130 inside.

Fun fact: Rolex sorts every baguette sapphire by hue before setting so the gradient runs cleanly from red round to violet, and assembling one matched set can take years. The hour markers are cut from coloured sapphire to carry the same spectrum onto the dial.

The collection

Cosmograph Daytona

Rolex's chronograph, named for Daytona Beach and read against a tachymetric scale

Rolex introduced the Cosmograph in 1963 and named it for Daytona Beach in Florida, laying it out as a driver's instrument with three counters and a tachymetric scale on the bezel for reading average speed over a measured distance. Screw down pushers arrived on reference 6240 in 1965, sealing the chronograph into the Oyster case. The movement went from hand wound to an automatic based on the Zenith El Primero in 1988, to Rolex's own calibre 4130 in 2000 and the calibre 4131 in 2023. The case grew from 37 mm on the first series to 40 mm with that 1988 generation and has stayed there since, in steel, gold and platinum.

Sizes in the family

40 mm across the current line, 37 mm on the first series references

Who it suits

For a buyer who wants a chronograph rather than a dress watch, and who is choosing on metal rather than on case size.

See every Cosmograph Daytona we have

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