Rolex Daytona Ceramic

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The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona has been the benchmark of racing chronographs since 1963, but it reached a new level of durability in 2016 when Rolex introduced the scratch‑proof Cerachrom bezel on the steel ref. 116500LN. In 2023 the facelifted 126500LN arrived with the in‑house Calibre 4131 and a slimmer case profile. Whether you crave the monochrome “Panda” white dial, the coveted platinum ice‑blue 126506, or the Everose gold Oysterflex 126515LN, our inventory covers every Rolex Daytona ceramic reference—each inspected by Swiss‑trained watchmakers and ready to ship worldwide.

Evolution of the Ceramic Daytona

  • 2011 — Platinum Prototype
    Rolex unveils a one‑off platinum Daytona with brown ceramic bezel at Baselworld.
  • 2013 — 50th Anniversary Platinum 116506
    First production Cerachrom Daytona, ice‑blue dial, 950 platinum case.
  • 2016 — Steel 116500LN
    “Holy‑Grail” update: steel case, black Cerachrom bezel with platinum‑filled tachymeter scale. Wait‑lists explode.
  • 2023 — New 126500LN & Calibre 4131
    Slimmer lugs, sapphire display caseback on platinum, optimized Chronergy escapement.

Cerachrom Bezel Explained

Rolex begins with zirconium‑oxide powder, sinters it at 1 500 °C, then CNC‑mills the tachymeter scale before PVD‑filling the numerals with platinum (steel/platinum models) or Everose gold (gold models). The result:

  • Hardness: 2 000 Vickers—30× tougher than aluminum inserts.
  • Fade Resistance: Pigment is baked‑in; UV or chlorine can’t dull the black or brown tone.
  • Scratch Proof: Everyday knocks leave steel polished links scarred—but Cerachrom stays perfect.

Rolex Ceramic Daytona Price

Model Retail USD Avg. Pre‑Owned 12‑Month Trend
126500LN Black $15 100 $29–30 k +7 %
126500LN Panda $15 100 $32–33 k +8.2 %
126506 Platinum $80 900 $92–95 k +6 %
126515LN Everose $32 100 $45–47 k +5 %

Ceramic Daytona FAQ

What is a ceramic Daytona?

It’s a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona fitted with a Cerachrom bezel—a one‑piece zirconium‑oxide ceramic ring that is virtually scratch‑proof, UV‑stable and inlaid with platinum or gold numerals. Mechanically it remains a steel, gold or platinum Daytona; the ceramic bezel simply adds durability and a modern aesthetic.

What year did the ceramic Daytona come out?

Rolex first released a production ceramic‑bezel Daytona in 2013 with the platinum ref. 116506. The high‑volume steel models—the 116500LN “Panda” and black‑dial versions—followed in 2016, bringing Cerachrom to the mainstream.

Does Rolex make a ceramic watch?

Rolex doesn’t produce an all‑ceramic case, but it widely uses Cerachrom ceramic bezels on the Daytona, Submariner, GMT‑Master II, Yacht‑Master and Deepsea lines, giving those watches outstanding resistance to scratches and fading.