Rolex continues their rollout of new watches for 2026 with the new steel Daytona. This year sees the historic chronograph gain an all-white grand feu enamel dial, taking the panda-style dial of late into a more polar direction. Now sporting an exhibition caseback, the new Daytona joins the ranks of the ice blue Platinum model and the fabled Le Mans as the only models displaying the Calibre 4131. Here, the bezel ring and caseback ring are fashioned in platinum as well.
To top it all off, the iconic anthracite Cerachrom bezel has PVD Platinum markings to prevent any corrosion. What makes things interesting is how these platinum markings are laid out: all tachymeter readings are oriented vertically 12 to 6 for more of a vintage-leaning look and feel.
This year’s Daytona is otherwise the same as the existing models with 100m of water resistance provided by the 40mm Oystersteel case. The classic Oyster bracelet retains the The real kicker is the strengthening of the Superlative Chronometer certification, with three new testing criteria: resistance to magnetism, reliability and sustainability. This, along with the other chronograph developments in the chronograph department in the Yachtmaster II, goes to show that Rolex is not just making incremental improvements here and there but really pushing the envelope of their watchmaking standards.
