In recent years, the daytona has basically become the hottest watch in the Rolex portfolio since the introduction of the ceramic bezel in the steel edition (116500LN), but has also remained a rather conservative model with a rather economical use of colors. However, this was not always the case, and in the past we saw and go wild spending. But Rolex changes and has recently focused on voting manufactures. In all collections, stones, jigsawa -aille, Guilloché and bright colors have appeared … and now it is time for the Daytona, with the 126518ln and the bold turquoise paint, a clock that we now know as a daytona Alcaraz. A few months have passed since the start and I wanted to take a second look at whether my opinion has changed or not.
This year, Rolex, although it was quite discreet, was a great year for the Daytona, in which a total of 8 new references were introduced, including meteorite dials, a new white gold with blue dial, new chocolate brown editions and John Mayer Mkii with two tone green dial. So -called Alcaraz, because the tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, winner of Roland Garros 2025, was wearing during the price ceremony. And I can vividly remember my first reaction when I saw the official pictures of this new turquoise painted, yellow Gold Daytona in the night of April 1st. And no, I will not publish the words that came out of my mouth at that moment. We still have certain rules in our editorial guideline.
A 2005 Rolex Daytona 116509 in white gold with a turquoise -colored dial – picture of Christie's
In short, my reaction (and basically the entire monochrome team, which is available in the room at that time), was strongly responsible. Why should Rolex use a turquoise dial on a yellow gold daytona? Well, it's not the first time that Rolex used such colors on the daytona. In the 1990s and 2000s we saw almost the entire spectrum of the rainbow (and also the full rainbow), which is used for the brand's emblematic chronograph. Some would say that it was only about the naughty nineties, but in a world in which a Golden Mechanical Chronograph is now just like a small fluid rear price, everything has to be reconsidered. Rolex thus becomes braver, colorful and less conservative because there is a demand for such watches. Fortunately, there are also classic options.
So let's go back to our daytona Alcaraz … what is it? Well, it's all about the dial. And what a dial and what a combination of colors that we talk about. Before we deal with the details, I think that the reactions were less dramatic if this edition had been published in a white gold case because we had dealt with a cold cold scheme. Now it's Bright-on Bright and with two colors that shouldn't live together on paper. Turquoise on yellow? Try to imagine this as an outfit. A yellow suit over a turquoise shirt …? Avoid that. A turquoise 911 with a yellow leather interior? No thanks.
What is this dial about? In contrast to most colored dials, the basis is painted in the Daytona collection. As such, it has a flat, almost enamel -like surface with a shiny but not shiny effect. It is also a solid color, without the shimmering effect of a dial, which is from Sunray in Pushed War-as if it is the case for icy platinum or John Mayer. The color is uniform, subtle in the metal when I first imagined. For this new edition, Rolex also opted for contrasting black counters and corresponded to the black ceramic element of the bezel. It is a design that has a certain duality. On the one hand, it is even more contrast and visual elements to a dial that is already known to be discreet, and yet the color softer. And thanks to the updated used markers in this generation of Daytona, the golden elements of the dial are discredited than before.
What is felt on paper is not necessarily the case in the metal. First and foremost, press pictures (mostly 3D renderings) that dramatize the colors and are missing the reflections that a watch actually has. A watch lives in an environment, and the dial is covered by a sapphire crystal that tends to soften colors despite the use of AR coating. While the case of this edition is yellow gold, it also carries many black parts (bezel) and is worn on a black oyster flex bracelet, so that the gold is usually far less present.
The rest of the clock is everything we know from the updated daytona, a change in 2023. It means that an updated case has maintained the slim dimensions – 40 mm diameter, 11.9 mm thick thickness (a rarity on the market with automatic chronograph) and 47.5 mm – with a slightly different design for the cerachrome, which in another construction for the cerachrom At an 18K edge, with an outstretched. Fit and finish? Excellent, as always with Rolex. Comfort? Excellent thanks to the Oysterflex bracelet -a unique construction with flexible metal leaves that exceeds with black elastomer, and these flexible elements on the back that hug the wrist and compensate for the weight of the 18K yellow gold housing. And yes, it still has the screwed Pushers who are not of the greatest practicability in a chronograph …
Inside the case is the latest development of the automatic chronograph of Rolex, the caliber 4131. This movement using a column wheel and a vertical coupling now uses the patented chronecutive estuary with its efficient geometry in combination with a blue parachrome hair jump. The rest is more evolution as a revolution, a newly designed rotor on a (improved) ball bearing and a single barrel that kept 72 hours of electricity reserve. The movement is of course superlative chronometer certified (both from the COSC and Rolex to the housing) with an accuracy of -2/+2 seconds/day. And while it benefits from a more sophisticated decoration than before (Rolex Côtes de Genève), it is still hidden behind a solid golden fallback. I think it's time for Rolex to bring the Sapphire of the Le Mans and Platinum models back to much more expenses.
After seeing this Rolex Daytona Alcaraz Turquoise Lack Dial 126518ln in the metal, I have changed my opinion. Yes, I somehow like it. Yes, I somehow feel a bit guilty. No, it is absolutely not the name of this magazine, and I have to admit that I feel a bit alone in the monochrome team. But I like the boldness and the unexpected style of the watch. And it could be this “guilt fun clock” that you do not wear often, but in a way you have a smile. Would it be my first choice if I had to choose a daytona? Absolutely not. I am still very much according to a classic steel model with a white dial. But I was able to consider this turquoise edition after a blue dial/white gold version as a solid third choice (not that I am able to acquire anything of it …)
The Rolex Daytona Yellow Gold Turquoise Lack Dial 126518LN receives EUR 37,400 EUR. And yes, the hype is still real. The price is high. And the availability is too zero. But it is not a watch for everyone, that's safe. More details at rolex.com.
https://monochrome-watches.com/rolex-waytona-alcaraz-yellow-gold-turquoise-lacquer-126518ln-hand-hand-review-price/