Let’s turn back the clock to 2017 when Rickie Fowler won the Honda Classic by a convincing four strokes. Chris Kirk won the 2023 event but decided to go with a bare wrist in his victory. Rickie was wearing his signature orange polo and wore an extremely popular Rolex Daytona on his wrist while holding his trophy.
WOTW Specs: Name: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference: 116500ln-0001 Limited: No Date: 2016 – Current Case: 904L Oystersteel Bezel: Black Cerachrom Ceramic Dial: White Size: 40mm Movement: Calibre 4130, 44 Jewels Power Reserve: 72 Hours Glass: Saphire Crystal Waterproof: 100 Meters Bracelet: Rolex Oyster, 904L Oystersteel Price: $14,800 (~$31,500)
Rolex has never been known for making the most complicated watch movements, and in 1963 this caught up with the company. Rolex released a chronograph watch called the Cosmograph that was built around timing land speed for auto racers to very little excitement. Many other companies were known for their precision chronographs and the models sat on shelves. In 1965, Rolex changed the name of the watch and named it after one of the most famous auto races in the world, Daytona. The name change didn’t help right away, and it still took some time for the watch to take off and become one of the most coveted and sought after watches in the world.
Rolex’s Oystersteel is a 904L stainless steel alloy that is engineered to be extremely corrosion resistant and used for the 40mm case and solid caseback. On the right side of the case is the screw-down crown and pushers for working the chronograph. The crown features Rolex Triplock seals for keeping water out and helping give the watch its 100 meter waterproof rating. On top of the case is a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel with a tachymetric scale. This ceramic bezel is extremely scratch resistant and won’t fade after long exposure to UV light. Originally the bezel was made from black Plexiglass but that was far too soft and easy to crack.
When the Cerachrom bezel’s were introduced on the Daytona in 2010, Rolex was only using them on the gold and platinum models. In 2016 the stainless steel Daytona also received the much requested bezel. The dial on Rickie’s Daytona is white with black rings for the subdials and the classic Daytona name in red. White gold hour markers surround the dial and are filled with Chromalight, Rolex’s luminescent material, that glows bright blue in low light.
Inside this timepiece is a self-winding, automatic movement designed and built in-house by Rolex. The Calibre 4130 was first released in 2000 and has been the heart of every Daytona since. The 4130 was the first Rolex movement to use ceramic bearings with the winding system to run smoother and add durability. Paraflex shock absorbers also add to the movements durability and the 44 jewels keep it running smoothly. A total of 201 parts make up the 4130 and like all Rolex movements, it is COSC Certified for accuracy. The bracelet on this Daytona is the iconic Rolex Oyster design and made from 3 solid links of Oystersteel. A folding Oysterclasp keeps the watch securely on the wrist while the Easylink comfort system can be adjusted to dial in the perfect fit.
This Daytona with the white dial is one of the most sought after watches in the world at the moment. I have heard the rumor that a lot of Rolex dealers have stopped taking names for the waiting lists as it will take years and years for customers to get watches. If you can get one at the $14,800 retail price consider yourself very lucky or thank the family member who works at Rolex. Getting one right now will cost you a little more than double at around $31,500 for the Panda. Expensive, but way down from the previous high of around $60,000 just a year or so ago.
WOTW: Jon Rahm’s Rolex Sky-Dweller in White Gold and Stainless Steel
I have been an employee at GolfWRX since 2016. In that time I have been helping create content on GolfWRX Radio, GolfWRX YouTube, as well as writing for the front page. Self-proclaimed gear junkie who loves all sorts of golf equipment as well as building golf clubs!
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Jon Rahm posted his third win in 2023 and no one can argue that he is the hottest player in the world right now. After trading birdies and bogeys with Max Homa all day, Rahm took the lead with a few holes to play and never looked back, carding a stroke victory over Max. As Jon celebrated with his family, he wore his favorite timepiece, the Rolex Sky-Dweller in bright blue!
WOTW Specs Name: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller Reference: 326934-0003 Limited: No Date: 2017 – Present Case: 904L Oystersteel Bezel: White Gold Fluted Dial: Bright Blue Size: 42mm Movement: Calibre 9001, 40 Jewels Power Reserve: 72 Hours Glass: Saphire Crystal, Cyclops Lens Waterproof: 100 Meters Bracelet: Rolex Oyster, 904L Oystersteel Price: $15,650 (~$24,500)
The Sky-Dweller is the most complicated watch that Rolex makes currently with a unique dual time zone design. The Rolex Sky-Dweller was introduced 10 years ago as a watch for world travelers. The case is on the larger side for Rolex at 42mm and made from Rolex’s own stainless steel, Oystersteel. The caseback is solid stainless steel and screws into the case for a 100 meter waterproof rating. On the right side of the case is the screw-down crown that features Rolex’s Twinlock double seal system.
Under a sapphire crystal is a Bright Blue dial with an off-center ring around the middle. The off-center ring tells the time of a second time zone in a 24-hour format. Around the dial are hour markers made from white gold and filled with Rolex’s Chromalight luminescent material for a bright blue glow in low light. Above each hour marker is a white, or red, square that indicates the current month. The date is at the 3 o’clock position and only needs to be set once per year as the Sky-Dweller is an annual calendar. It is engineered to distinguish between the months with 30 and 31 days so you only need to set it on March 1st each year.
On top of the case is the iconic fluted bezel that is crafted from Rolex’s own white gold alloy. White gold can fade over time and Rolex created their own foundry in order to produce a white gold that will keep its luster longer through everyday wear. The bezel also features Rolex’s Ring Command that works with the mechanical movement to set the date and time on the watch.
Rotating the bidirectional bezel into one of three positions allows you to set the local time, second time zone, or the month and date. This unique system gives you the ability too easily set a very complicated watch.
Internally the Sky-Dweller uses Rolex’s most complicated movement, the Calibre 9001. The 9001 is a self-winding automatic with the aforementioned annual calendar and Ring Command. It contains around 380 parts and that is a lot to package into its 33mm diameter. The 9001 is unique as it works with the bezel and that feature alone takes 60 parts to function correctly. Rolex designed and builds the 9001 completely in-house and it offers the wearer around 72hrs of power reserve. Like all Rolex movements the 9001 is COSC (Swiss Superlative Chronometer) certified to ensure it is extremely accurate through all temperatures and conditions.
Jon’s Sky-Dweller has the more casual design, the Oyster, bracelet. The Jubilee option is a little more flashy and formal in its look. Made from 3 solid, flat links of Oystersteel the bracelet is very durable and comfortable. A folding Oysterclasp brings the bracelet together and features Rolex’s Easylink extension, allowing you to adjust the band 5mm for the perfect fit. The Sky-Dweller is a popular watch among collectors and the Bright Blue dial is by far the most sought after. Rolex collector’s demand has pushed up the price of the blue Sky-Dweller to around $24,500 on the secondary market, almost $9,000 over its retail price.
Justin Rose is back in the winners circle after his gutsy performance at the AT&T Pro-Am. The weather was brutal and the tournament had to be completed on Monday, but that didn’t stop Rose from keeping his focus getting the win. He held up the crystal trophy while wearing what looks like a rare white gold Rolex Daytona on his wrist.
Name: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference: 116519 Limited: No Date: ~2000 – 2006 ? Case: 18k White Gold Bezel: 18k White Gold Dial: Tahitian Mother of Pearl Size: 40mm Movement: Calibre 4130, 44 Jewels Power Reserve: 72 Hours Glass: Saphire Crystal Waterproof: 100 Meters Bracelet: Black Alligator Strap Price: ~$30,000 – $70,000?
Rolex’s Daytona is currently one of the most collectable and sought after watches in the world. But life didn’t start out so great for the Daytona. The Rolex Chronograph started life as a manual wind watch that struggled to sell. Rolex wasn’t known for its chronograph movements and other watch brands were considered experts in that design. In 1965 Rolex adopted the Daytona name as it was influenced by the races held at the legendary Florida raceway. Even with the name change it took some time for the Daytona to really become a popular piece in the Rolex lineup. In the early 2000’s, Rolex added some color and unique options to the Daytona including some brightly colored leather straps and dials.
It looks like Justin was wearing a very rare Rolex Daytona in white gold with a Tahitian Mother of Pearl dial, featuring Roman Numeral hour markers. I have looked through the internet and there isn’t a lot of information on this particular watch and photos are tough to come by. So if anything is incorrect here, please understand why!
The case on Justin’s Daytona is 40mm and made from solid 18k gold. Rolex has been making its down gold and platinum alloys in its own foundry since the late 1990’s. This enables Rolex to control the quality and consistency of the metal to ensure it lives up to the tight tolerances Rolex demands. The case features a solid caseback that screws into the case and helps give the watch a 100 meter water resistance rating. On top of the case is a white gold bezel that is polished and features a tachymeter scale for the unlikely timing of land speed!
The dial is Tahitian Mother of Pearl that is pretty rare in the Rolex lineup. Tahitian MOP, also known as Black Mother of Pearl, is made from Pinctada margaritifera oysters and about 90% of them come from pearl farms in Tahiti. No two dials will ever be the same color or pattern so replacing the exact purple, pink, and blue hue is impossible. The hour markers are Roman Numerals and crafted from matching white gold. The sub dials are also made from Tahitian MOP and offer a unique contrast agains the rest of the dial. A scratch-resistant sapphire crystal covers the dial and hands.
Inside this special Daytona is a self-winding, automatic Calibre 4130 movement that was designed and built in-house by Rolex. A blue Parachrom hairspring and Praflex shock absorbers help keep time through temperature changes and jarring movements. The 4130 is made from 201 parts, including 44 jewels, and offered 72 hours of power reserve. A black alligator strap holds the Daytona on Justin’s wrist and features a white gold Oysterlock safety clasp.
Details, photos, and pricing for this rare Daytona are pretty hard to come by. I only see one for sale on Chrono24 and it is listed for $70,000 but there are other Tahitian MOP Daytonas with metal bracelets for around $30,000 – $40,000. No matter the price, you can bet that finding another one of these will not be easy!
Si Woo Kim won his fourth PGA Tour event at the Sony Open this weekend. He started his Sunday three shots back but finished with two birdies to win by one shot over Hayden Buckley at Waialae Country Club. Kim happily raised the gold trophy into the bright Hawaiian air with a rose gold Patek Philippe Aquanaut on his wrist.
WOTW Specs: Name: Patek Philippe Aquanaut Reference: 5167R-001 Limited: No Date: 2009 – Current Case: Rose Gold Bezel: Rose Gold Dial: Brown Size: 40.8mm Movement: Caliber 26-330 S C, 30 Jewels Power Reserve: 45 Hours Glass: Saphire Crystal Waterproof: 120 Meters Bracelet: Brown Composite Strap Price: $43,760 (~$75,000)
We don’t seem to feature Patek Philippe watches on WOTW enough, but today we get to look at Si Woo Kim’s Aquanaut! Patek Phillippe was founded by Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe in 1839. Patek Philippe is considered one of the premier watch makers in the world right now and is one of the last family-owned watch companies left. The Aquanaut line was released in 1997, and while not as popular and collectable as the Nautilus, has become and extremely popular and collectable piece.
Aquanauts come in a variety of materials and with different mechanical options depending on what you would like on your wrist. Kim’s 5167R reference number identifies it as being made from rose gold. You can currently get an Aquanaut in stainless steel or white gold. Kim’s Aquanaut has a 40.8mm case that is crafted from rose gold. The caseback has a large display window where you can see the exquisitely finished mechanical movement. The screw-down case back window is made from ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and sealed for a water resistance rating of 120 meters. On the right side of the case are two crown guards that protect the screw-down crown. On top of the case is the very famous dodecagon bezel with very subtle 12 sides. The bezel has a vertical brushed finish that is perfectly laid down and polished sides for classic contrast. Another scratch resistant sapphire crystal sits in the bezel to protect the dial and hands. A brown dial is embossed with what look like longitude and latitude lines from a globe and is surrounded by rose gold hour numerals. A luminescent material fills in the numerals and the rose gold hour and minute hands for easy reading in low light and the date window sits at 3 o’clock.
Inside this elegant piece is Patek’s Caliber 26-330 S C self-winding movement that is designed and built completely in-house. Patek is well known for the extreme detail that goes into each of their watches. They might spend hours hand finishing one of the 212 parts in the 26-330 that will be covered and never seen by any eyes. A 21k gold rotor winds the movement with the natural movement of your wrist and the movement offers around 45 hours of power reserve.
The tropical strap on Kim’s Aquanaut is a brown composite material with a square texture on the outside. Patek doesn’t get deep into what the composite is made of but they skipped rubber to ensure that the strap can withstand every day wear and exposure to water over long periods of time. The strap comes together with an ornate fold-over clasp. The clasp is made from matching rose gold and features the Patek Philippe logo embossed on it. The demand for Aquanauts isn’t as strong as the Nautilus but finding one of these at your local Patek Philippe dealer isn’t easy. If you can get one at retail then the $43,760 will feel like a bargain compared to the $75,000 price a 5167R goes for on the secondary market.
Carl Yuan what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Chez Reavie what’s in the bag accurate as of the WM Phoenix Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
With the PGA Tour making its annual pilgrimage to the king’s place for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it’s also a...
Driver: Titleist 910D3 (9.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 73 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Tour Burner TP (13 degrees) Irons: Titleist...
Tom Doak brings High Pointe back in 2024
Cobra-Puma rep rips Bryson over ‘asinine comment’ and claims he’s looking for ‘unicorn’ driver
‘He’s learned nothing’ – Olympic legend launches scathing attack on Tiger Woods over tampon apology
Golf fans left bemused following bizarre Jim Nantz blunder
An UP-CLOSE look at Tiger Woods’ famous Scotty Cameron putter
Best driver 2023: Expert club fitters recommend the best driver for your swing speed
Tour pro says ‘LIV would be done’ if Brooks Koepka returned to PGA Tour
David Feherty ridiculed for Greg Norman comment during LIV broadcast
Copyright © 2020 GolfWRX Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved.