SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA RAINBOW MODEL, REF. 116598RBOW, CASE NO. PY187147, CIRCA 2012

Rolex is a watch manufacturer that can alternate seamlessly from classic to avant-garde designs, something that has been demonstrated numerous times over the decades. Notable examples of avant-garde designs that spring to mind include the gold reference 6262 in the 1960s and early 1970s, the diamond-set references 6269 and 6270 in the 1980s, and lastly, the “beach” Daytonas at the beginning of the new millennium. This tradition of innovation lives on in the second decade of this century, as demonstrated by the present watch, which, whilst maintaining the style of a normal Daytona, is anything but. The bezel is set with baguette-cut sapphires in the colours of the rainbow, and the lugs and crown guard are set with brilliantly cut diamonds, resulting in a sublime outline that covers the large masterpiece in a dazzling, multi-coloured aura. This spirit of innovation further continues on the dial, which has a colour scheme befitting such a daring masterpiece. Diamond-set numerals shine on the pitch black dial, combining with the subtly shimmering subdials to create a fusion of glittering lights.