A driver of time

May 23, 2024

Rolex’s association with motor sport dates back to 1930 when Sir Malcolm Campbell wore an Oyster watch while racing his Bluebird at Daytona Beach.

Five years later the British racing driver set a new World Land Speed Record of 300mph (483kph), again wearing a Rolex.

Fuelled by a passion for performance and technology, the Swiss watchmaker grew its presence on the race track, starting with the Daytona International Speedway in 1959.

Today Rolex supports the finest motor sport events, including Formula 1 and iconic endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Launched in 1963, Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona was designed with a tachymetric bezel and a high-performance mechanical movement to meet the needs of professional racing drivers.

Rolex has been the Official Timepiece of the 24 Hours of Le Mans event since 2001 while the prestigious endurance motor race was first held in 1923.

This year to celebrate the centenary of the legendary race, Rolex launched a special version of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in 18-carat white gold.

The bright black face features three intense white counters, whose graphic design is inspired by a traditional Rolex dial.

The Oyster case is fitted with a transparent case back in sapphire crystal revealing the exclusive calibre 4132.

On the tachymetric scale, the recessed graduations, numerals and inscriptions are moulded then coated with a thin layer of platinum via a PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process — apart from the number 100, which is filled with red ceramic, to pay tribute to the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This variant of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona boasts a Cerachrom bezel in black ceramic edged with a fine 18-carat white gold band.

Based in Geneva, Rolex played a pioneering role in the development of special ceramics for creating monobloc bezels and bezel inserts.

Its exclusive expertise and innovative manufacturing methods grant complete independence in the production of these ceramic components.

Not only are these materials virtually scratchproof, their colours are also of a rare intensity and are resistant to environmental effects. In addition, thanks to its chemical composition, the high-tech ceramic is inert and cannot corrode.

The robust 40mm Oyster case is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100m, and its middle case is crafted from a solid block of 18-carat white gold.

On the tachymetric scale, the number 100 is in red ceramic in reference to the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Edged with fine fluting, the case back is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement.

The sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, however, offers a view of the meticulously-decorated calibre 4132 and cut-out 18-carat yellow gold oscillating weight equipped with an optimised ball bearing.

Exclusive to this commemorative timepiece, this new chronograph movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex enables the watch to display the hours of the chronograph function in a 24 hour format instead of the usual 12, by means of an additional patented mechanism.

This gear reduction system halves the rotational speed of the gear train that turns the 24-hour hand. The device’s morphology allows its integration without the slightest change to the movement’s architecture.

Calibre 4132 is equipped with a self-winding system via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve extends to approximately 72 hours.

The chronograph hour counter features a 24-hour display instead of the usual 12-hour format.

While delivering outstanding performance in terms of precision and power reserve, the mechanical movement incorporates a chronograph function with a reduced number of components.

It is engaged by a mechanism featuring a column wheel and vertical clutch, allowing an instantaneous and extremely precise start.

Made of nickel-phosphorus and resistant to strong magnetic fields, the patented Chronergy escapement combines high energy efficiency with reliability.

Likewise in a paramagnetic alloy, Rolex’s blue Parachrom hairspring offers great stability in the face of temperature variations as well as high resistance to shocks. The Rolex overcoil further ensures the calibre’s regularity in any position.

This model is fitted with the three-piece link Oyster bracelet.

The Oysterlock folding safety clasp prevents accidental opening while Easylink comfort extension link allows the wearer to easily adjust the bracelet length by approximately 5mm.

Like all Rolex watches, the new Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona comes with an international five-year guarantee, and is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolised by the green seal.

This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, following the official certification of the movements by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.

Calibre 4132 is exclusive to the Cosmograph Daytona created to celebrate the 24 Hours of Le Mans centenary.