I didn’t quite know what to make of them when I first saw the new gold Daytonas at Basel. After the phenomenal success of last year’s new steel and Cerachrom Daytona, further extension of the line seemed inevitable, and precious metals the logical step. But I did not expect – and was somewhat confused by – the choice to pair these yellow, white and Everose gold Daytonas with an Oysterflex bracelet. Add to this the fact that I was feeling some pretty intense feelings about the new replica Sea-Dweller and Sky-Dweller, and it’s fair to say that I didn’t give these new models the attention they deserved.
Well, that changed last week when I got to spend time with some new pieces here at home, and while the shine hadn’t worn off the two ‘Dwellers, I found myself coming back, again and again, to the yellow gold Daytona. It’s a decidedly modern take on the powerhouse chronograph, with its high-contrast black and gold colour scheme and blend of materials including ceramic, gold and rubber.
While the upgrade to Cerachrom is significant, that’s something we’re all pretty familiar with now; instead it’s the Oysterflex that radically changes what this watch is, and how it wears on the wrist. Oysterflex, in case you need a refresher, is Rolex’s extremely over-engineered take on sporty rubber, first spotted on the Yacht-Master. The bracelet is a thin blade of titanium/nickel alloy, clad with a layer of comfy black elastomer. Further adding to the ergonomics are the clever, flexible ‘wings’ on the underside of the bracelet, ensuring a good and comfortable fit, especially in hot weather. It’s good to see that this version utilizes solid gold end pieces, as the gap between bracelet and case was one of the weak points of the Yacht-Master. Oysterflex turns the Daytona into a legitimately sporty/casual option, potentially opening up the Daytona to someone who wouldn’t normally have considered a gold sports replica Rolex.
The case is bold and bright, as only yellow gold can be, but it manages to avoid the status statement of being a solid gold Rolex. I might have been unsure of them at first, but these fresh new Daytonas are quickly winning me over. You might be worried that the combination of heavy case on a light-weight bracelet results in a watch that’s top-heavy and floppy on the wrist. Thankfully it doesn’t.