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The story
Rolex launched the Cosmograph in 1963 as reference 6239, a chronograph with a tachymeter on the bezel for timing speed. The Daytona name, borrowed from the Florida racing circuit, joined the dial within a couple of years; manual-wind Valjoux-based movements powered it for 25 years.
In 1988 the Daytona became automatic with calibre 4030, a heavily modified Zenith El Primero. Calibre 4130, Rolex’s own chronograph, followed in 2000; a ceramic bezel arrived in 2016 and calibre 4131 in 2023 for the model’s 60th anniversary.
| Years | References | Calibre | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963–1969 | 6239, 6241 | Valjoux 72 | Manual wind; 'Paul Newman' exotic dials |
| c.1965–1988 | 6262, 6264, 6263, 6265 | Valjoux 722, 727 | Screw-down pushers from 6263/6265 |
| 1988–2000 | 16520, 16523, 16528 | 4030 (Zenith El Primero base) | First automatic Daytona; sapphire crystal |
| 2000–2016 | 116520, 116523, 116528 | 4130 | First fully in-house Rolex chronograph |
| 2016–2023 | 116500LN | 4130 | Cerachrom ceramic bezel |
| 2023–today | 126500LN, 126503, 126506, 126508, 126518LN… | 4131 | 60th anniversary update; slimmer case |
Reading a Cosmograph Daytona reference
126500LN reads as the current generation (1265), Oystersteel (0) and a black Cerachrom bezel (LN). Change the last digit to 8 (126508) for yellow gold, 5 for Everose, 9 for white gold and 6 for platinum; 126518LN is yellow gold on an Oysterflex bracelet with a ceramic bezel.
Five-digit 16520 is the first automatic Daytona; 116520 the first with Rolex’s in-house chronograph; 116500LN the first steel Daytona with a ceramic bezel.
Current models and prices
Every Cosmograph Daytona reference Rolex currently lists for India, with the retail price shown on rolex.com/en-in on 8 October 2026, including taxes. Where a reference comes with several dials or bracelets, the range is shown.
| Reference | Model | Case | Calibre | India price, 8 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126500LN | Cosmograph Daytona | Oystersteel | 4131 | ₹16,40,000 |
| 126503 | Cosmograph Daytona | Yellow Rolesor | 4131 | ₹23,90,000 – ₹25,94,000 |
| 126505 | Cosmograph Daytona | Everose gold | 4131 | ₹57,60,000 – ₹59,64,000 |
| 126506 | Cosmograph Daytona | Platinum | 4131 | ₹82,31,000 – ₹88,74,000 |
| 126508 | Cosmograph Daytona | Yellow gold | 4131 | ₹53,80,000 – ₹55,84,000 |
| 126509 | Cosmograph Daytona | White gold | 4131 | ₹57,60,000 – ₹59,64,000 |
| 126515LN | Cosmograph Daytona | Everose gold | 4131 | ₹43,67,000 – ₹48,17,000 |
| 126518LN | Cosmograph Daytona | Yellow gold | 4131 | ₹41,53,000 – ₹46,03,000 |
| 126519LN | Cosmograph Daytona | White gold | 4131 | ₹43,67,000 – ₹48,17,000 |
| 126535TBR | Cosmograph Daytona | Everose gold, diamond-set lugs | 4131 | ₹1,45,85,000 |
| 126538TBR | Cosmograph Daytona | Yellow gold, diamond-set lugs | 4131 | ₹1,43,13,000 |
| 126539TBR | Cosmograph Daytona | White gold, diamond-set lugs | 4131 | ₹1,45,85,000 |
| 126579RBR | Cosmograph Daytona | White gold, diamond bezel | 4131 | ₹89,21,000 |
| 126589RBR | Cosmograph Daytona | White gold, diamond bezel | 4131 | ₹78,33,000 |
| 126595TBR | Cosmograph Daytona | Everose gold, diamond-set lugs | 4131 | ₹1,56,84,000 |
| 126598TBR | Cosmograph Daytona | Yellow gold, diamond-set lugs | 4131 | ₹1,52,60,000 |
The calibre
Calibre 4131 is a column-wheel chronograph with vertical clutch, about 72 hours of power reserve, Chronergy escapement and Superlative Chronometer certification. Its predecessor 4130 (2000–2023) introduced the architecture; the 4030 of 1988–2000 was based on the Zenith El Primero.
Materials
Oystersteel, Yellow Rolesor, 18 ct yellow, white and Everose gold and 950 platinum, the platinum versions with an ice-blue dial and chestnut-brown ceramic bezel. Gold models come on the Oyster bracelet or the Oysterflex, an elastomer-covered metal blade.
- Chronograph pushers and bezel that suit the reference and generation
- Calibre 4131 in any 1265xx reference
- Subdials and tachymeter printing that are crisp and correctly aligned
- Matching papers and serial
- Redialled or ‘upgraded’ dials on older references
- A ceramic bezel on a pre-2016 steel reference
- Movement or case parts from different generations
- Unusually low price on a steel model
Frequently asked questions
After the Daytona racing circuit in Florida; the name joined the Cosmograph’s dial in the mid-1960s.
Reference 16520 of 1988, with calibre 4030.
Calibre 4131, introduced with the 126500LN in 2023.