Rolex Quietly Unveiled 8 New Daytonas — Here's What You Need to Know

This year, Rolex launched eight new Daytona references. While the striking turquoise dial may have caught most of the attention, there are a few other noteworthy releases that flew under the radar, including some subtle returns of highly coveted models. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Turquoise Lacquer Dial Yellow Gold Daytona

The standout release this year is the yellow gold reference 126518LN, featuring a lacquered turquoise dial, an Oysterflex rubber strap, and a black ceramic bezel. The combination is bold, eye-catching, and unapologetically playful — one observer in Geneva even dubbed it "a Miami watch," a description that has stuck ever since. The pairing of yellow gold and turquoise makes a statement, yet the Oysterflex strap ensures it remains comfortable and wearable. This watch isn’t for everyone, but for the right collector, it’s an ideal Daytona.

This model harks back to the "Beach" Daytonas from the early 2000s, which featured brightly coloured stone dials in pastel shades.

The Return of the John Mayer Daytonas

In 2019, John Mayer appeared on Talking Watches and singled out two modern Daytonas as future classics: the yellow gold with green dial 116508 and the white gold with blue dial 116509. This endorsement sent the collector world into a frenzy, with prices for these models climbing quickly. The yellow gold version in particular became known as the “John Mayer Daytona.”

This year, Rolex reintroduced both models, now with updated features, including the new-gen 4131 movement and revised dial layouts. The changes include thinner subdial rings, metal bezels surrounding the Cerachrom, and other proportional tweaks. While the white gold/blue dial version (126509-0005) remains visually almost identical to the original, the yellow gold/green dial version (126508-0008) now has gold-toned subdials instead of green. It’s a minor change, but one that will undoubtedly enhance the collectability of the original.

Three Meteorite Daytonas, One for Each Metal

Rolex also released three new meteorite-dial Daytonas this year, each paired with an Oysterflex strap: yellow gold (126518LN-0016), Everose (126515LN-0008), and white gold (126519LN-0007). These models are built on the updated Daytona platform introduced in 2023, meaning they feature the calibre 4131 movement and include all the latest design refinements.

The Chocolate Brown Everose Daytonas

In addition, Rolex introduced two new chocolate dial Daytonas in Everose gold: one on an Oyster bracelet (126505-0005) and one on Oysterflex (126515LN-0010). While this colour scheme has appeared in past Daytona generations, this is the first time it’s featured in the latest model format.

Final Thoughts

Eight new Daytonas in a single year is a significant move. If you count the trio of new off-catalog Daytonas, including the recently discussed Everose ‘Le Mans’ edition, that’s actually eleven models. Rolex’s decision to expand the new-generation Daytona lineup makes perfect sense, given the chronograph’s enduring popularity and desirability.

If you’ve managed to hang on to an original John Mayer Daytona, congratulations — you’re now holding onto a first edition.