School Is In Session – Quick Overview Of The New Rolex Daytona Meteorite Collection From Watches & Wonders 2021
Editor’s note: Like you, we are also excited for the releases from the Watches & Wonders 2021. Our coverage is going to be split into 3 categories: deep-dive hands-on, shorter Gut Reaction Reviews (Grr…), and nut-shell previews. This is the Quick Overview of the new Rolex Daytona Meteorite Collection. For our other detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here.Â
Just when you thought Rolex couldn’t possibly improve the highly sought after Daytona, they up the ante. From the time it was first introduced in 1963, the legendary Rolex Cosmograph Daytona has seen many re-births (and we will look at them in a bit).Â
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona tells the story of passion that marks the need for speed and motorsport. The name for the watch has been inspired by Daytona Beach in the USA, and both have come to be known as landmarks of motorsport racing, enthralling fans for decades.
This new Rolex Daytona Meteorite takes this legacy further and puts the best of the celestial and motorsports world on your wrist.
Brief Daytona TimelineÂ
The 1963 inaugural model’s design starts with a tachymetric scale on the bezel and includes a strong-contrast dial: black on a light-coloured dial or a light colour on a black dial. Somewhat along the lines of form follows function I would suggest, Rolex ensured that in the world of high-speed racing, these new features on the watch not only gave it a technical and sporty look but also ensured better legibility.
The 1963 to 1965 era saw demand increasing, and Rolex increased dial variations to include panda dials — seconds track on a contrasting band around the edge of the dial & squares on the markers in the counters — to this new range of professional watches. And the world was given the ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona. The dial is famous for not only adorning the wrists of a Hollywood legend but also due to the fact that it increased legibility under challenging race conditions.Â
Then in 1988 the self-winding new calibre 4030 was introduced that featured an oscillator with a variable inertia balance wheel and a hairspring with a Breguet overcoil. In 2000 this was replaced by the new-generation self-winding chronograph movement:Â calibre 4130. The new calibre 4130 was entirely designed and manufactured in-house. Aesthetically this new watch was faithful to the 1988 iteration and maintained its subtle strong lines and perfect ergonomics. Calibre 4130 also extended the power reserve from 50 hours to 72.
So in terms of design architecture, the new Rolex Daytona Meteorite Collection From Watches & Wonders 2021 is most closely related to the version introduced in 2000. Featuring subtle strong lines and perfect ergonomics, this, in turn, was faithful to the codes of the 1988 Cosmograph Daytona.
So when you have a foundation this strong, how do you build upon it without destroying it, yet advancing it to the modern age. If you are Rolex, you introduce stunning meteorite dials, that add the much needed ‘newness’ while maintaining the heritage.Â
Basic Specifications
Featuring the Manufacture Rolex Calibre 4130 — a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex that was released in 2000 — that boasts of an impressive −2 /+2 sec/day accuracy after casing, it is to COSC-certified, features 44 rubies and provides an increased 72-hour power reserve. The watches are obviously 100m water-resistant and come with an international five-year guarantee.Â
Three new Rolex Daytona Meteorite models have been announced.Â
The ref. 116519 LN — my favourite of the lot — features a meteorite dial with black counters encased inside a 40mm diameter 18 ct. white gold case with a monobloc Cerachrom in black ceramic bezel; and comes on an Oysterflex strap.
The ref. 116505 features a similar design dial with an 18 ct. Everose gold case, bezel and bracelet.
The ref. 116508 features a similar design dial with an 18 ct. yellow gold case, bezel and bracelet.
That’s All Folks!
These Rolex watches bathe in their glorious heritage and for yet manage to embody a contemporary vibe.
One of the most iconic watches ever, having made their presence felt in literature, cinema, popular culture and of course the world of horology, the Datejust just went from being an icon to a modern legend.
Ever wanted to own a piece of the universe and feel like Paul Newman at the same time? Here’s your chance – well, hypothetically – with the Rolex Daytona Meteorite Collection from Watches & Wonders 2021.
Stay tuned for a more detailed review coming soon. To find out more about the new Rolex Daytona Meteorite collection and Rolex watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise specified are © Rolex. Make sure to check out our reviews of other Watches & Wonders 2021 releases here.
