Hands-On With The 50th Anniversary Rolex Cosmograph Daytona In Platinum Reference 116506 (Live Pics, Full Details, Pricing)

What's there to say about this watch? A lot, really. The Daytona is arguably the most sacred watch to Rolex collectors, rivaled only perhaps by the Submariner. And coming into Basel World 2013, expectations for a 50th anniversary Daytona were really, really high.  The assumption was, for some reason, that we'd see something that would resemble a reference 6263 Daytona - with a black Cerachrom bezel placed atop the existing stainless steel model.  That's not what we got - instead we the very first Cosmograph to be made in the noblest of all metals - platinum.  What does this mean? Read on for some thoughts, tons of live pics, and full pricing details.

BENJAMIN CLYMER

What's there to say about this watch? A lot, really. The Daytona is arguably the most sacred watch to Rolex collectors, rivaled only perhaps by the Submariner. And coming into Basel World 2013, expectations for a 50th anniversary Daytona were really, really high.  The assumption was, for some reason, that we'd see something that would resemble a reference 6263 Daytona - with a black Cerachrom bezel placed atop the existing stainless steel model.  That's not what we got - instead we the very first Cosmograph to be made in the noblest of all metals - platinum.  What does this mean? Read on for some thoughts, tons of live pics, and full pricing details.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 116506 remains 40mm in size.  It features a case made entirely of 950 platinum, with a chestnut brown Cerachrom bezel.  The dial is ice blue, a color used exclusively on platinum models by Rolex - most notably the Day-Date II.  This is not the first Daytona to receive a Cerachrom bezel - two years ago the Everose Daytona received the update first.  So, we kinda knew that we'd see another Daytona with a ceramic bezel, we just didn't think it would look like this. 

And in fact the chestnut brown ceramic of the bezel on this new 50th anniversary Daytona is actually a lovely color in the metal.  You can see it here above.  It is matched perfectly by the lacquered sub-dials within the ice-blue dial. 

The three-piece solid Oyster bracelet is also made entirely of platinum, and the watch just feels incredible on the on the wrist.  I also happen to think this new mega-Daytona looks better on the wrist than in press photos - and I challenge anyone to put this watch on and not simply sit back in awe.  This is a Rolex Daytona. In platinum.  What does that mean?

It means that instead of producing the watch everyone thought they would - a stainless steel model - for the 50th anniversary, Rolex went ahead and created an instant collector's piece - targeted not a watch buyers in general, but at seasoned watch collectors.  Whether you're a fan of the ice blue dial or not, this is a watch that serious Daytona lovers will simply HAVE to own.  Of course, I'm not speaking about the average guys here - the you's and me's of the world - but rather the guys who already own a handful of Cosmographs and will feel compelled to own the one and only platinum model. 

Needless to say, watch fans en masse would've preferred to see a Daytona in steel to celebrate the half-century mark, but we got something new and totally unexpected instead.  And, if you think about it, this could be the first time that Rolex has really built a watch specifically not for "people" in mind, but for the wristwatch connoisseur.  Vintage Rolex watches are massively valuable and sought after by the most knowledgeable watch collectors in the world (click here to see three prime examples), and it was about time that a modern Rolex stepped into the game.  Also, if you think about the complicated, if controversial, introduction of the Sky-Dweller last year (the most complicated watch from Rolex in a generation), you'll realize that in the past two years, Rolex has, at 30,000 feet, given collectors just what they want - something complicated and innovative in the Sky-Dweller, and something rare and collectible in the platinum Daytona.  Personal aesthetic tastes aside, of course. 

Not getting a new steel Daytona at the half-century mark isn't the end of the world.  In fact the addition of a platinum Daytona to the line-up is a welcomed one.  And we can all assume that in 2014 (or maybe 2015?) we'll see a steel Cosmograph with a ceramic bezel.  In the mean time, the current steel offerings is one of the finest all-purpose watches around.  And if you don't believe me, read Paul Boutros's review of it right here and tell me you're not convinced.