97
Rolex
Ref. 126528LN
Cosmograph Daytona “Le Mans”
A highly coveted, prestigious, and limited production yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with ceramic bezel, bracelet, guarantee, and presentation box
- Estimate
- $100,000 - 200,000
$254,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- 2024
- Reference No
- 126528LN
- Case No
- 5W2'4U5'351
- Model Name
- Cosmograph Daytona “Le Mans”
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 4132, 47 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max overall length 210mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp, stamped D43
- Dimensions
- 40mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed.
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Rolex guarantee card, hang tag, wax medallion, product literature, warranty booklet, fitted presentation box, and outer box.
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
At Watches & Wonders 2023, Rolex released an all-new, updated version of the Cosmograph Daytona in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Le Mans: the reference 126529LN. Instantly coveted, the “Le Mans” Daytona (a nod to the original name of the Daytona and honoring Rolex’s ties to racing) featured the updated movement and case architecture of the new standard production Daytonas, with a cheeky red flair to the ‘100’ on the bezel and matte white Art-Deco style subdials so evocative of the legendary exotic, “Paul Newman”-style dials of manually-wound Daytonas. Additionally, it was fitted not with the new caliber 4131, but the 4132, replacing the 12-hour counter for 24 hours – another clin d’oeil referencing the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
But less than a year later, Rolex would prove once again that the watch community shouldn’t take anything for granted. They would abruptly discontinue the reference 126529LN, resulting in an extremely limited production run. The white gold reference was subsequently replaced by an “off catalog” yellow gold iteration, like the present watch, the reference 126528LN, much to the temporary relief of collectors. This year, at Watches & Wonders 2025, the yellow gold version was once again discontinued and replaced – this time by a pink gold version. The Le Mans Daytonas are the only non-platinum Rolex Oyster models to feature a sapphire caseback.
Aside from the vintage racing twists on the design, the 126528LN also bears the hallmarks of the new generation of Daytonas: the new “perpetual” rotor, metal-edged ceramic bezel, and redesigned case. The present watch is offered on behalf of the original owner, with its full suite of accessories.
PROPERTY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER
But less than a year later, Rolex would prove once again that the watch community shouldn’t take anything for granted. They would abruptly discontinue the reference 126529LN, resulting in an extremely limited production run. The white gold reference was subsequently replaced by an “off catalog” yellow gold iteration, like the present watch, the reference 126528LN, much to the temporary relief of collectors. This year, at Watches & Wonders 2025, the yellow gold version was once again discontinued and replaced – this time by a pink gold version. The Le Mans Daytonas are the only non-platinum Rolex Oyster models to feature a sapphire caseback.
Aside from the vintage racing twists on the design, the 126528LN also bears the hallmarks of the new generation of Daytonas: the new “perpetual” rotor, metal-edged ceramic bezel, and redesigned case. The present watch is offered on behalf of the original owner, with its full suite of accessories.
PROPERTY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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