New release! The Rolex Daytona 126518LN with Controversial “Turquoise' Dial

Rolex Daytona “Turquoise” 126518LN

Being a fan of pretty much anything “Stella Dial” related, of course a turquoise lacquered gold Daytona on Oysterflex is going to be right up my alley! 

This was a watches and wonders 2025 release and is presented in 18 carat yellow gold with a black Oysterflex bracelet - a perfect pairing as the Oysterflex works to “tone down” the mixture of gold and the eye-popping turquoise of the dial. Full gold would have been too much, this is just right. 

Despite being precious metal, this is a fairly robust chunk of gold courtesy of the monoblock ceramic bezel which now feautres a yellow gold retaining ring for some extra protection against impact. 

This was one of the updates from the 60th anniversary in ’23 that I really appreciate, as I was never a particular fan of the rounded bezel edges of previous models. This looks, and feels, better, in my humble opinion. 

Stats are the same as any current Daytona, coming in at a cuff friendly 40mm diameter, 12mm thick with water resistance of 100 metres and a 72 hour power reserve courtesy of calibre 4131, the successor to the venerable cal 4130.
No reason to think that this isnt a movement upgrade, as the 4131 now features paraflex shock absorbers, chronergy escapement, a reduced number of components for easier maintenance, and an updated openworked rotor. Sounds good to me, even as a diehard fan of the outgoing calibre! 

Without stating the obvious, the dial is the real standout on this piece. Its a vibrant turquoise lacquer dial, which is created by depositing multiple layers of lacquer onto a brass plate, building up the colour so that it is deep and striking, adding a layer of varnish, and polishing to a high rich gloss.
It is the first Daytona to showcase a “Stella” style dial with a ceramic bezel and panda configuration.

I really hope it isnt the last, because if this is a sign of things to come - put my name down for a coral!