Rolex Has Officially Axed This Coveted Modern Daytona

Last year, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance motorsport race in France, the Rolex surprised and excited fans once again by releasing a new version of its already celebrated and impossible-to-buy-at-retail chronograph, the Daytona.

The aesthetic of the Rolex’ Le Mans’ Daytona Ref. 126529LN was a nod to the most famous vintage watches of all time. It also added substantive and technical elements, making the new reference 126529LN even more special. 

Sadly, anyone possibly hoping to score this watch directly from Rolex who hasn’t already will be disappointed since Rolex has announced the watch is officially discontinued. Still, we expect this model will continue to build as a coveted collector’s item. 

So whether you’re in the market to buy one second-hand or just curious to build your general background knowledge on important Rolex resources, here’s what you need to know about the Rolex’ Le Mans’ Daytona Ref. 126529LN.

It’s got a reverse-panda dial

The first thing you’ll notice about the Rolex ‘Le Mans’ Daytona Ref. 126529LN is that it features a black dial with starkly contrasting white subdials. We, in watchnerd-dom, call that a “reverse-panda” dial (black on white is just “panda”). Why is that notable? It’s a favorite retro style that many brands have returned to recently, and Rolex hadn’t done one like this for a while — even though it’s the brand that quite plausibly made the style so popular in the first place. It’s not just this element of the dial that makes it special, however…

Rolex

It’s a nod to Paul Newman

Rolex’s press release with the watch said that the new watch’s “graphic design is inspired by a traditional Rolex dial.” Everyone pretty much knows what that means. The (reverse-)panda colorway and those funky, paddle-like markers reference what Rolex refers to as “exotic” dials.

And what celebrity is inextricably linked to this particular style? Why, Paul Newman, of course. The legendary actor was also a style icon, he actually raced cars professionally and he’s known to have loved watches, Rolex in particular. Famous pictures of him wearing Rolex Daytonas of the exotic-dial variety have led to that particular style being nicknamed “The Paul Newman,” with vintage examples selling for shocking prices and generally having deep influence on the watch industry.

So, Rolex fans will immediately recognize that the “traditional Rolex dial” which inspired this model is the reference 6263, or “The Paul Newman Daytona.” (He was also known to wear others, though.)

Nods to the actor who has been so important for Rolex are also found in this watch’s connection to the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. As noted, Newman was a race car driver (in real life, in addition to on-screen) and he actually participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1979. The 100th anniversary of the Le Mans race is the impetus for this release, and it’s further marked with the “100” on the tachymeter bezel highlighted in red.

Rolex

It’s got a special movement

Next in our tour of this Rolex dial, please direct your attention to the subdial at 9 o’clock. You’ll notice that it measures up to 24 hours. That’s different from other Rolex Daytonas which only go up to 12. Of course that’s appropriate for the Le Mans race, which lasts 24 hours, and it also gives this model much more substance since it required technical tweaking and not just an aesthetic treatment.

This movement is called the 4132, and it’s a variation of the still-new 4131, one of the brand’s big announcements this year, powering the new generation of Cosmograph Daytona watches. Like the platinum Daytona for 2023, this model also features a display caseback so you can admire the movement with its 18k yellow gold rotor. The display caseback is unusual for Rolex, but offering a new technical feature for a special edition is even rarer.

This is no reissue

It should be noted that, while elements like an “exotic” dial pay tribute to vintage models, this is a modern Cosmograph Daytona through and through. It features the basic design of the current collection with a 40mm case and Oyster bracelet. With all the Paul Newman Daytona hype, Rolex has been keeping this release up its sleeve — and it’s about as close as we can expect to a reissue from the brand.

It’s in white gold

The steel versions of the Daytona and other Rolex sport watches are what tend to be the most sought-after. Does that make this one any less exciting? Hell, no.

One reason the steel models are popular is that they have that pragmatic, down-to-earth feel. White gold essentially achieves the look of the Daytona that everyone wants, but its luster and weight will make it feel even more special in person.

And it’s not as if white gold will make this watch more expensive. Rolex’s official retail price of $51,400 is essentially moot, whether it’s in steel or not, and there’s no pretense left that the Daytona is simply a high-end prestige symbol, anyway — and no longer an everyday tool watch. The street price of this release should reach well into six figures.

Rolex

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Le Mans”

• $51,400.00 at Rolex

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