The Rolex Daytona Rolesium 126502 with White Enamel Dial and Vintage Grey Bezel

For decades, the stainless steel Rolex Daytona has been one of the most desirable watches from the Crown’s catalogue. The brand’s chronograph, born in 1963, has been available in hundreds of versions, but when it comes to steel versions, the choice has always been limited to two options: silvery-white with black contrasting counters or rings, or black with white contrasting sub-dials or silver-toned rings. However, in 2026, Rolex is no longer as conservative as it used to be… And here we are with a third version of the Rolex Daytona, mostly made of steel but also platinum, a new combination named Rolesium. And the reference 126502 comes with several unexpected features: a new white enamel dial without contrasting rings, a new ceramic bezel design with vintage cues, in anthracite, enriched with tungsten and, for the first time in a (mostly) steel model, the calibre 4131 visible through the caseback. 

The base doesn’t change. What we’re looking at is a new version of the steel Daytona as we know it since 2023, when the model was updated and released under the reference 126500LN. The Cosmograph received a new, slightly enlarged, and more symmetrical Oystersteel case with stronger lugs, still measuring 40mm in diameter, with a moderately reduced thickness of 11.9mm. For the rest, no major changes to be seen on this new Daytona reference 126502, as it also retains its 100m water-resistance, flat sapphire crystal with AR coating, screw-down crown and chronograph pushers. 

There are, however, two notable changes for the case. First, and the most visible one, is a newly designed Cerachrom bezel insert, made of polished anthracite ceramic, still engraved with a tachymeter scale, and still using platinum-filled engravings through PVD process. But the material has evolved, being a specific type of ceramic composed of zirconia enriched with tungsten carbide, for which a patent application was filed.

Also, look closely, and you’ll see that the scale is different from the classic steel Daytona 126500LN, which has a modern tachymeter with triangular pointers, radially-positioned numerals and a 140 mark. The new steel 1265xxLN gets a vintage-inspired bezel look, modelled after that of the 1960s versions with black acrylic inserts. As such, it gets intermediate baton markers, small dots next to the numerals, which are all horizontally-engraved and a succession of 160-150-140 markings (vs. a jump from 160 to 140 in the 126500LN). The bezel is framed by a platinum ring, giving this new Daytona 126502 its new material, Rolesium.

The second major case on the case is on the back, which is also made of platinum. Indeed, for the first time, a Daytona mostly made of steel (and some platinum parts) gets an open caseback, something that was first seen in 2023 on the full platinum model and the Le Mans white gold, but never in the most accessible of materials. And that will certainly please a lot of fans of the watch.

Now, these are not the only changes for the new Daytona Rolesium 126502. As said, steel versions of Rolex’s chronograph, apart from extremely rare Albino models (potentially all prototypes), have only been available with white dials with black sub-dials or rings, or black dials with white sub-dials or silver rings.

But, as you’ve guessed from the photos, this new Rolesium version of the Daytona has a full white dial, without contrasting sub-dials or rings, a first for a standard production version. And we are here looking at a white enamelled dial, created using the ancestral grand feu technique. In the case of this watch, however, it is coated onto ceramic plates – one for the dial itself and three others for the counters – which are fitted to a brass base after the vitrification firing phase.

Under the hood, no evolution compared to other versions of the Daytona, save for the Le Mans editions with their 24-hour chronograph counter. This means the calibre 4131 inside, and visible through the sapphire back. This evolution of the calibre 4130, first launched in 2000, received the Chronergy escapement with its efficient geometry and anti-magnetic properties, paired with a blue Parachrom hairspring. An automatic, integrated movement with column wheel and vertical clutch, it runs at a 4Hz frequency and stores 72 hours of power reserve, and is Superlative Chronometer-certified. It also benefits from a refined decoration with Rolex Geneva stripes, as well as a solid gold rotor, like all references with an open caseback. 

Worn on a 3-link stainless steel Oyster bracelet with polished and satin-finished surfaces and closed by an Oysterlock folding safety clasp with Easylink comfort extension link. 

Availability & Price

The new Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rolesium reference 126502 is released as part of the off-catalogue collection and will be priced around EUR 55,000 (to be confirmed). For more details, please visit rolex.com.