Rolex Daytona 116509

There truly is a Rolex for everyone, no other watch manufacturer runs the design gamut of staid-conservatism to avant-garde-eccentric like the Crown - minimalist Oyster Perpetual to gem-set leopard print Daytona. Regardless, this solid white gold Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116509H is in a category by itself. The highlight of course is the rich, green mother of pearl dial, which is contrasted and cooled by diamond hour markers, white gold hands throughout including the arrow-tipped chronograph counter, and the highly unusual white gold 15, 30, 45 numerals at the quarter hours. The only pop of color is the red "Daytona" at 6, which is a name that has accompanied every Cosmograph since 1964 to promote Rolex's sponsorship of the annual endurance race in Daytona Beach, FL (today's Rolex 24 At Daytona). Originally debuting the year before, it was specifically designed as a tool watch for professional race car drivers and like all Daytonas since this 116509H sports a small but relevant detail: sub dials that in some way contrast the dial. In this case outer white gold rings define silver rounds, which are contrasted by black numerals, hashmarks and inner rings giving this 116509H a distinctive look. No brand new Cosmograph from the 1960s would have come this way but the utilitarian racing spirit is there just the same. Dial aesthetics aside, this piece has a few other things going for it as well. For all but the most hardcore Rolex enthusiasts this 116509H is hiding a small but notable difference in plain site: the tachymeter numerals on the white gold bezel are all oriented toward the center of the dial as opposed to being upright all the way around. When the 116509 reference series was released in 2004 this was not at all insignificant news in the nuanced world of Rolex - it set the Daytona on a contemporary path. This 116509H, like all modern Daytonas, is outfitted with the august caliber 4130 - an in-house, automatic, chronometer-rated, column-wheel chronograph movement - and Rolex's patented screw-down, Triplock crown so it's as technologically sound as it is visually unique. Diamond hour markers on mother of pearl is for a truly marvelous different breed of cat. A Rolex is always a good idea and this 116509H will telegraph personal style like almost nothing else.