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