The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is one of the most sought-after watches that Rolex has ever produced. If one were to try to purchase the watch directly from Rolex, current estimates have the waitlist at an astounding two years before a buyer would receive their watch. This fact alone speaks to the enduring, and impressive, popularity that this watch has among Rolex collectors.
In 2023, several important news stories happened relating to the Rolex Daytona. It saw the 100th anniversary of Le Mans, which prompted Rolex to release a limited edition Le Mans Chronograph. Initially, these were just gifted to the winning teams, but eventually, they were made an official part of the Rolex catalog and available to the public, albeit in limited quantities.
However, the company also released several new models of the watch as well. Below, we will explore some of these new models and how they differed from their previous counterparts. Additionally, we will also look back at the history of how Rubber B has been a leader in the field when it comes to producing luxury rubber watch straps for the Cosmograph Daytona.
What Are Some of the Differences Between The 2023 Models and Their Previous Iterations?
In some cases, some of these changes are immediately noticeable, and in some instances, one would have to look very carefully at the watch to notice these subtly implemented modifications to the prior designs. For ease, it is prudent to begin with the more noticeable changes.
The most immediately noticeable change is that Rolex has greatly expanded the use of precious metals within its production of these watches. Previously, they were primarily available in two-tone Oystersteel with yellow gold, and that was the most prominent model.
116506 Vs 126506 – NEED CONTENT AND BANNER
Now, Rolex has re-launched the Daytona Platinum 126506, Retailing for almost $80,000, the watch features a stunning ice-blue dial and a warm, chestnut brown bezel. The piece is one of the most memorable Rolex has produced in recent memory. They have essentially taken a watch that was already highly in demand and found a way to make it even more luxurious. This watch will likely sell out very quickly and become a popular commodity on the secondary market.
However, platinum is not the only new precious metal that they are implementing. Pink gold, yellow gold, and white gold are now available options for both the bracelet and the watch’s dial. The gold bracelet with the gold dial is one of the more outwardly opulent options Rolex has produced recently. These differing metals now allow for a greater degree of customization of the Daytona Cosmograph than ever seen before.
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The other notable feature involves any new Daytona Cosmograph that has a ceramic bezel on it. Previously, the ceramic bezels were strictly that – ceramic – with no extra adornments placed upon them. The newer models have an extra metallic ring, made of varying precious metals, around the bezel. While this is not something that would immediately jump out, it does add a subtle sense of class and style to these pieces. In short, it is exactly the kind of design choice that Rolex is well-known for making.
An Important Note About Rubber B Watch Straps For The Rolex Daytona
For those who are planning to purchase a watch strap from Rubber B for their Rolex Daytona, it is vitally important to ensure that you are selecting the right watch strap for the model of watch that you have. While this may seem like an obvious statement at first, for reasons to be explained in the following sections, there is a very specific reason that this is being pointed out.
As mentioned above, depending on what model of Daytona one purchases, there are very few aesthetic changes that immediately stand out from prior models unless one knows where to look. Therefore, it is entirely possible to, by mistake, accidentally purchase the wrong watch strap for your watch if you are solely operating on photos alone.
Furthermore, Rubber B watch straps have been carefully calibrated to fit the exact watch model they were produced for, and that model alone. This means that if you were to purchase a 2023 Daytona but purchase a strap for an older model of the watch, the strap would not be compatible with that timepiece.
Therefore, we ask that you make certain that you know what model watch you have before purchasing one of our luxurious rubber watch straps. If you have any questions about what strap is right for your watch model, please do not hesitate to contact us, as one of our valued associates will be happy to direct you to the correct watch band for your model number.
Rubber B has a proud and storied history of producing the highest-quality rubber watch straps for the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. Below, readers can learn more about the various milestones that the company has undertaken in connection with this vaunted watch.
A Brief History of Rubber B and the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
As a brand, Rubber B pioneered the concept of crafting luxury rubber watch straps for high-end timepieces. When the company first opened, the idea was somewhat controversial within the horological community. Could rubber truly be seen as a luxury good? The answer to that question, resoundingly, has been a yes.
In no small part, a large part of Rubber B’s success has come from the work it has done producing watch straps for Rolex watches, with the Daytona, in particular, being an important milestone in the company’s foundation.
2010 would prove to be a historical year for both the company, and the horological world, at large. Rubber B would release the first curved-end rubber strap for the Rolex Daytona 116520, along with an OEM deployant clasp. Rubber watch straps had never been available for any model of Daytona before this, and the success of the strap proved that there was indeed a need for this type of product.
Rubber B has always considered itself an innovative company at its core, and it was not content to stop there. Three years later, in 2013, Rubber B would release customized straps for the Rolex Daytona 116500LN, which was the most recent model of the Daytona at the time. Again, watch enthusiasts responded positively to the strap, proving that Rubber B’s insight into the needs of collectors had proven to be accurate.
2017 would prove to be a watershed moment, as Rolex did something they had never done before with their watch bands. When Rolex relaunched the Daytona with several new models (116515LN, 116518LN, and 116519LN), they offered these watches with a rubber Oysterflex bracelet for the first time.
These straps were heavily inspired by Rubber B’s original M101 strap, which had steadily increased in popularity over the preceding decade. The result was many of the most stringent purists began to reconsider their opinion on rubber straps once Rolex began producing their own rubber bands, even though they took their inspiration from Rubber B.
Ten years later, the company would release new straps for the most current iteration of the Daytona, the 126500LN series. This would continue Rubber B’s goal of making superior rubber watch straps available for every modern Rolex Daytona reference.
Are There Other Types of Watch Straps For The Rolex Daytona?
For many years, leather straps were a popular choice for the Rolex Daytona, as they meshed well with the “classic” aesthetic of the original watch, which was produced in the 1950’s. As a cruelty-free company, Rubber B had a strong desire to give consumers an option that would offer a similar look and feel to those straps without harming any animals.
This led to the creation of the SwimSkin® Alligator product line. These realistic and life-like straps are made from 100% rubber and are vegan-friendly, offering eco-conscious watch collectors a means by which to express their style in a way that is animal and environmentally friendly.
Why Are Rubber B Watch Straps The Ideal Choice of Watch Band?
There are two primary aspects that make Rubber B the superior choice in terms of luxury rubber watch straps. The first is the development of our proprietary “Blocked Integration” technology. This innovative solution utilizes a fixed, rotation-free mount to the watch case that allows for a micro-calibrated, precision solid insert to be housed within the strap.
The result is a watch strap that is fitted exactly to the watch in question without any gaps or missing spaces, which helps to ensure the strap’s longevity for many years to come.
The other is the highly skilled team of artisans who help to craft our straps. Every single Rubber B watch strap is 100% designed, manufactured, and hand-finished by expert craftspeople in Switzerland. This allows consumers to be certain that the company is completely committed to only producing products that meet the highest quality standards.
Created and calibrated by leaders in the Swiss horology industry, each Rubber B strap is a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
