884
Rolex
Ref. 126529LN
Cosmograph Daytona “Le Mans”
A highly rare and sought-after limited production white gold chronograph wristwatch with black Cerachrom bezel, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- 1 year of production only in white gold, full set
- Red “100” on the bezel and 24 hour register to celebrate 100th anniversary of Le Mans race
- Art Deco-style subdials reminiscent of the vintage "Paul Newman" dials
- Sapphire crystal caseback
At Watches & Wonders 2023, Rolex surprised collectors with the release of 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 pays homage to the original name of the Daytona while honoring Rolex’s racing heritage. It features the updated movement and case architecture of the new standard production Daytonas, accented by a playful red “100” on the bezel and matte white Art Deco-style subdials, reminiscent of the legendary "Paul Newman" dials of manually-wound Daytonas. Notably, it is equipped with the cal. 4132, which replaces the 12-hour counter with a 24-hour display—a clever nod to the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
In addition to its vintage racing-inspired design elements, the 126529LN incorporates the hallmarks of the new generation of Daytonas: a new “perpetual” rotor, a sapphire caseback like the platinum variant, a metal-edged ceramic bezel and a redesigned case.
However, less than a year later, Rolex would again demonstrate that the watch community should never take anything for granted, abruptly discontinuing the reference 126529LN and resulting in an extremely limited production run. With opportunities to acquire this watch at retail no longer available, this is one of the rare chances to own a well-preserved, exquisite modern chronograph that seamlessly bridges the past and the future.
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.