Luxury watches must be at the top of your bucket list if you’re a watch collector, and the Rolex Daytona is a special luxury watch.
Even though any Rolex watch is known for its premium design and quality, the Rolex Daytona collection deserves a special mention. Some of the most famous chronograph models belong to this collection, while the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow is more exclusive than any other model.
But before you decide to buy a Rolex Rainbow Daytona, it’s best to get all your facts right about the watch. And that’s why we’re here to lend you a hand.
In this article, we’ve covered everything about Rainbow Rolex Daytona, from its origin to its specifications. We’ll also talk about the evolution of this wristwatch over the years and discuss all the intricate designs of the Daytona Rainbow.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s begin!
History Of Rolex Daytona
Rolex first introduced its Cosmograph Daytona in 1963, and for over 50 years, the watch has been a favorite in the high-end fashion accessory industry. Even though the watch has gained a cult status among the public, it was initially designed by Rolex for professional race car drivers. Not only that but it is also named after the widely famous racetrack in Florida.
The Rolex Daytona also comes with a tachometer bezel and a precise chronograph movement that helps measure land speeds up to 400 miles per hour. With time it has gone through three major modifications that categorize the three generations of Rolex Daytona. Today, the watch features colored sapphires, ceramic bezels, and cases with crown guards measuring 40mm.
Although the Rolex Daytona was designed for drivers as a timing tool they could use at the race tracks; it has expanded tremendously due to its popularity. Modern Rolex Daytona models come with diamonds and rainbow-colored gemstones fitted onto precious metal bracelets of Everose, white, or yellow gold materials.
Furthermore, the watch has become widely popular among vintage and modern watch collectors, and we don’t think its popularity is about to die down anytime soon. In fact, the Rolex Daytona remains one of the most popular vintage luxury watches to this day.
Evolution Of Rolex Daytona
The evolution of the Rolex Daytona collection can be distinctly categorized into three generations. Each generation brought some unique modifications that helped the collection gain its current cult status among watch collectors.
Also, each watch comes with a different reference number to quickly identify the model. In this section, we will highlight the salient features and specifications of each generation of the collection.
First Generation Rolex Daytona
The first generation models of the Rolex Daytona collection were introduced from 1963 to 1968 and feature a unique four-digit reference number. Plus, all the first-generation watches come with Valjoux movements that are manual-wind and 37mm cases adorned with acrylic crystals.
It was also during this first generation that Rolex included the advanced feature of screw-down pushers in their Daytona watches. This feature massively enhanced the overall quality and reliability of the models, improving water resistance and longevity.
Second Generation Rolex Daytona
With Rolex’s second-generation Daytona collection, the self-winding movements were first introduced. These second-generation models were produced from 1988 to 2000 and are famously known as the Rolex Zenith Daytona, featuring a five-digit reference number.
The case design is the major difference between the first generation and second generation Rolex Daytona models. You’ll find that the second-generation models come with a 40mm case with crown guards. They also featured a colored sapphire crystal on the top of their dial instead of the acrylic crystal of the first-generation watches.
Furthermore, the second-generation Daytona watches have an internal self-winding movement that is absent in the previous models. This advanced internal feature transformed the second-generation Daytona model into the classic Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Daytona.
Third Generation Rolex Daytona
At present, we have the third generation of Daytona watches. Rolex launched the first third-generation Daytona in 2000 that featured Rolex’s exclusive chronograph movement, which was the most significant upgrade of the Daytona collection.
Also, the third generation Daytona models retain most of the core design features and specifications of the second generation watches. However, these models come with a six-digit reference number.
Plus, the running seconds are indicated in the 6 o’clock position in the third generation models instead of the 9 o’clock position like the Zenith Daytona. On top of this, the Rolex Rainbow Daytona is available in Everose, white, and yellow gold materials, featuring multi-colored sapphires and the legendary Rolex oyster bracelet.
We’ll say that the Rainbow Daytona is responsible for making the third generation the most popular and lucrative among all three generations of the Daytona collection.
What Is Rolex Rainbow Daytona?
Rolex is known for introducing diamond-encrusted Swiss luxury watches from time to time for its best clients. These luxury watches from Rolex are always the most sought-after timepieces among watch collectors and the wealthiest personalities in the world. But, the Daytona Rainbow is undoubtedly more special and exclusive than the rest of the bunch.
Owning such a watch is a dream for both vintage and modern watch collectors. Additionally, the Rainbow Daytona is even more exclusive than Rolex’s John Mayer collection when it comes to Rolex Chronographs. Adorned with multi-colored sapphires, diamonds, and gemstones, this watch is a beautiful and exquisite piece of jewelry where Rolex has shown its excellence as a jeweler and watchmaker.
This statement timepiece comes at a staggering price of more than three million dollars on the secondary market. And with a 40mm case, it is perfect for male as well as female wrists.
If you combine that with its popularity among celebrities, the Daytona Rainbow is clearly the most coveted Rolex watch at present. The only downside is you can’t purchase it at retail price on the market.
Fast Facts
Brand: Rolex
Model: Cosmograph Rainbow Daytona
Limitation: These watches are available in very limited quantities.
Measurements: The diameter of the case is 40mm, and the height is 12.2mm.
Movement: The Rainbow Daytona models feature the in-house Caliber 4130 movement with a superlative chronometer and vertical clutch system. Plus, they have a power reserve of 72 hours.
Materials: The watches are available in white, yellow, and Everose gold materials.
Gemstone Setting: The case and bezel feature multi-colored sapphires and diamonds.
When To Wear: The Rainbow Daytona is a jeweled timepiece that is quite colorful, so it might not be the best choice to wear with your daily formal outfit. But, you can always pair it with a casual or colorful outfit such as printed shirts, jeans, and sneakers.
What To Love: The gemstone setting on the Rainbow Daytona is exquisite and acts as the main attraction. Also, the Everose pink gold alloy goes perfectly well with the gemstone and clearly stands out from the previous yellow and white gold versions of the collection.
Rainbow Daytona Case
Ever since the Rainbow Daytona was launched, it has been considered a flashy luxury watch despite originally being to be a tool watch for racing tracks. All of the Daytona models come with a gold material option, dating back to the first time the collection was introduced in 1963.
Moreover, Daytona watches featuring diamond-encrusted bezels were first introduced during the early 1980s that had both baguette-cut and brilliant-cut stones. The exquisitely jeweled bezels of the Daytona models rose far beyond the simple speed measuring feature of the tachymeter scale, which is typically a basic hallmark of the Daytona collection.
Additionally, the case design of the previous versions of the Daytona watches is nothing compared to the current Rainbow Daytona models. The first white and yellow gold Rainbow Daytona watches were launched in 2012, while the Everise pink gold version hit the market in 2018. No platinum version of the model is yet available, but since the price isn’t an issue for the buyers, you can’t rule out something similar for the near future.
The case design of the recent Everose pink gold version of the Rainbow Daytona also varies slightly from the previous white and yellow gold versions. But, the overall visual appearance of all these watches is more or less the same. Each model has the lugs and crown guards encrusted with 56 brilliant-cut diamond pieces that differ in size based on their positions.
On top of this, as the diamonds have a brilliant cut, they have a cube shape with many facets, reflecting as much light as possible. So, you can say that the diamonds make these Rainbow Daytona watches dazzle and stand out among other luxury, high-end watches.
Dial And Bezels
If you look at the dial of these watches, you can see the small differences among the different versions of the Rainbow Daytona models. Both the white and yellow gold versions feature eight brilliant-cut diamonds that are placed squarely on the hour markers.
Also, the three, six, and nine o’clock positions have Arabic numerals, while the Rolex Coronet stands proud in the 12 o’clock position in these white and yellow gold models. However, the recent Everose pink gold model features sapphires in place of these eight diamonds. The square and baguette-cut sapphires are placed on the hour markers based on the space available on the dial.
Now, when you see the bezels of these models, you get the original idea behind naming this collection as the Rainbow Daytona. There are 36 rainbow-colored gemstones set on the bezels that are meticulously chosen by the Rolex gemologists. The gemstones maintain absolute uniformity in terms of their shape and quality, while the color graduation is completely seamless from one gemstone to the next.
What’s more, each baguette-cut sapphire precisely mirrors the shade of its adjacent gemstone set on the watch bezel. Each Rainbow Daytona model also features separate chronograph counters that have a gold crystal finish.
Not to mention, the three different models have sub-dials that are color-matched to the case. Only the Everose pink gold model features a pavé dial adorned with diamonds covering the center links of the Oyster bracelet. Hence, the Rainbow Daytona watches are limited in number as it’s not possible to mass-produce such jewel-encrusted watches even with huge resources.
The Rainbow Daytona Movement
At its very core, the Rainbow Daytona is part of the classic Daytona collection of Rolex, which is probably the best mechanical stopwatch. The main attraction of the Rainbow Daytona watches is the Caliber 4130 movement that Rolex has exclusively developed based on the automatic caliber of the second-generation Daytona.
Additionally, this in-house caliber movement is often considered one of the best chronograph movements that have been mass-produced in recent times. Rolex introduced its Cal. 4130 movements in 2000 made from only 201 separate parts. It also utilizes 60% fewer resources than all the previous versions.
Owing to its minimalistic design of the Caliber 4130, the Rainbow Daytona watches have a power reserve of upto 72 hours compared to the previous 50 hours. And they offer more reliability and accuracy while measuring time.
Furthermore, the Cal. 4130 is designed using an alloy of zirconium and niobium that comes with a coating of blue oxide. Thus, it makes these watches resistant to temperature and magnetic variations.
This in-house Cal. 4130 movement makes the Rainbow Daytona watches more shock-resistant as compared to the traditional hairsprings of the older versions. Not only that, but Rolex also improved the vertical clutch system in the Rainbow Daytona models. Now, the vertical clutch provides far more precision and accuracy in measuring time than the normal horizontal system.
What’s more, the clutch unit of the Rainbow Daytona watches is serviceable, delivering accuracy and extending the life of each component. Naturally, because of their advanced caliber movement and clutch system, these models are Superlative Chronometers. They exceed the stringent parameters of timekeeping as required for the COSC certification.
Gemstone Setting
Like we’ve mentioned earlier, the gemstone setting of the Rainbow Daytona watches highlights the exceptional mastery of Rolex as a luxury jeweler. The watches feature a collection of exquisitely designed diamond and sapphire crystals with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds encrusted on the case.
Furthermore, the bezel is decorated with 36 baguette-cut colored sapphire crystals that are all perfectly set. There are also 11 more sapphires present on the black lacquer dial of the watches, replacing the traditional hour markers. So, every model of the luxury watch collection features 47 high-grade sapphire crystals in total.
Moving on, the Everose pink gold Rainbow Daytona model comes with a crystallized shimmering finish. It is available in the Gold Crystals pink color and has diamonds encrusted on the bracelet center links. Hence, it is the epitome of luxury watches with an exquisite, high-grade gemstone setting.
Material And Functionality
The most striking quality of the Rainbow Daytona watches is that all these high-grade gemstones haven’t affected the functionality. For instance, the case is water-resistant up to 100 meters, while the minute and hour hands are coated with a blue luminescent oxide material to withstand magnetic and temperature variations. Thus, the accuracy of the watches in measuring time is not hampered in any way.
As you look inside the outer case, you’ll find the Cal. 4130, exclusively developed by Rolex that keeps every Rainbow Daytona watch running. The watches also have a power reserve of 72 hours.
Plus, when it comes to material, the Everose pink gold version deserves a special mention. The 18-carat Everose gold is an alloy specially developed by Rolex. It contains 76% gold and 2% platinum, along with a mixture of silver and copper. Due to the unique structure, the Everose gold material is corrosion-resistant, ensuring that the watch can maintain its brightness for a long time.
Design Details
None of the Rainbow Daytona watches have a low-key design. They have a flashy and extravagant design, comprising beautifully encrusted high-grade diamonds and gemstones. Also, the watches are made with 18k white, yellow, or Everose gold materials.
Furthermore, the design of the dial and the bezels of these timepieces are an instant attraction. The diamonds on the case alongside the multi-colored gemstones on the bezels offer a cooling effect to the otherwise colorful and flashy design. Hence, the brilliant-cut diamonds offer the Rainbow Daytona watches a well-balanced appearance.
In addition to this, the timepiece is held together by the three-piece link traditional Rolex Oyster bracelet. The Oyster buckle that comes with the Easylink option clasps the bracelet together, and the lustrous gold crystal polish complements the colorful centerpiece perfectly. Also, the polished center links of the bracelet go very well with the satin-finished links present on either side of the timepiece.
Comparing Points
Although various luxury brands like Patek and Ferrari are known for their chronographs, you can only compare a Rolex Rainbow Daytona with other Daytona models. All Daytona watches are tachymeters with relatively the same knobs and dials, but they are all available in different colors.
The main point of difference between the Rainbow Daytona and other Daytona models is the design of the bezels. You’ll find that the former doesn’t come with the engraved numbers like other Daytona watches to make space for the jeweled centerpiece. Naturally, you may find it a bit difficult to track time in a Rainbow Dayton watch compared to the other Daytona models.
However, we think that the intricate and exquisite design of the Rainbow Daytona watches is more about making a bold fashion statement than simply tracking time. They go beyond the hallmark features of any ordinary tachymeter or chronograph watch collection.
Who Wears Rolex Rainbow Daytona?
The Rolex Rainbow Daytona is extremely popular among celebrities, and that list is quite diverse. From singers like Adam Levine and John Mayer to actors like Kevin Hart, all are huge fans of this luxury watch collection. Also, Miley Cyrus was spotted with the yellow gold model from the collection.
Even French soccer superstar Antoine Griezmann celebrated his transfer from his former club Atlético Madrid to FC Barcelona by purchasing the Everose gold model of Rainbow Daytona for himself. So, you can see the Rainbow Daytona collection from Rolex has some of the richest and most popular buyers in the world.
Final Thoughts
The Rainbow Daytona watches are absolutely stunning in terms of design and artistry. These watches are flashy, colorful, and bold, which makes them stand out from Rolex’s much conservative style and tradition.
Apart from their high-end price tags, they come with the quality assurance of Rolex. However, it’s safe to say that these watches are not suited for everyone.
But, if you have a large budget and are looking for a watch that is sophisticated and extravagant, you should definitely go for a Rolex Rainbow Daytona. It is the best choice for making a bold and colorful fashion statement.