Rolex, more often than not, has been associated with utility rather than pizzazz. Sure, it is a luxury brand, but what draws most people in besides the prestige in wearing one is its technological innovations and sleek design. It would not be the brand you expect to put the colors of the rainbow on a watch, but it has tested expectations after introducing to the world the Rainbow Daytona. Taking after the design of the popular Rolex Daytona, the Rainbow has been released in three versions so far—yellow, white and everose. The colorful take on the watch has proved to be polarizing, and yet, it has received considerable publicity due to being spotted on celebrities and for the limited number of the timepieces.
Compare Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona Prices Online
Release date: 2012
Price: US$86,000+
Rolex watches that often take the spotlight are mostly known for their sportier build, including the original Daytona. But the fact is that the watchmaker always had its own collection of jewelry watches, and has hired their own extraordinary group of gemologists. What makes the Rainbow Daytona special is the difficulty in finding the sapphires to be used that are of the similar color. This is what justifies its high price point and the numbered stock of the watches.
Specifications:
- Caliber: 4130
- Winding: Automatic
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
- Frequency: 4 Hz/28,800 vph
- Jewels: 44
- COSC Chronometer Certified
- Functions: Chronograph, hours, minutes, seconds
- Diameter: 40mm
- Water resistance: 100 meters
Pros
The main source of pride for the Rainbow Daytona is the sapphires set on the case and the dial. Each one is meticulously cut and picked to imitate how a real rainbow blends together its colors. Rolex decided to do away with the prongs, allowing each gem to really shine. The dial is a delight to the eye, the gems really standing out against the black lacquer. The hands are applied with blue Chromalight to make reading a little bit easier even in dim surroundings. Delicate as it may seem with the sapphires and diamonds on the watch, Rolex maintains that this is a watch to be reckoned with as it uses an Oyster case, has a screwed-down caseback, and a scratchproof dial; it will not be so easy to take away its beauty. The watch that is surprisingly light and securely clasped on the wrist is also a COSC-certified chronograph, so you’re also paying for its precision and accuracy more than just the jewels.
Cons
Daytona purists, or fans of the more popular Rolex styles, may find the watch kitschy—it is not for everyone. The steep price of the Daytona Rainbow can also be an issue, which is on the higher side of the spectrum than most Rolex timepieces; the original white and yellow gold Rainbow Daytonas have even doubled in price since its release. An official number of produced Rainbow Daytonas has not been revealed by Rolex, but these are thought to be extremely rare.
Compare With
- AVI-8 Flyboy Centenary
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400ST
- Montblanc TimeWalker Urban Automatic
- Tissot PR100 Sport Chic
Image credits: Monochrome Watches (featured image and article images), Rolex, Bob’s Watches (article images)
