Hands-On: The Rolex “Alcaraz” Daytona With Turquoise Lacquer Dial ref. 126518LN – Yet Another Watch I Wish I Could Pull Off

The framework for this new variation is essentially the same as all other precious metal Oysterflex Daytonas. As with all Daytonas featuring the current Rolex caliber 4131 automatic movement that have a Cerachrom bezel, the new “Alcaraz” model features a metal ring around that bezel. In this case, the ring is made of yellow gold, with numerals on the bezel in the same color, rendered using Particle Vapor Deposition. But the ring isn’t purely aesthetic. Instead, it’s a part of the monobloc construction of the Cerachrom bezel, which also secures the sapphire crystal in place for watertightness. 

The difference is very obviously the lacquered turquoise blue dial with black subdials featuring outer snailing (where the subdial markers are printed) and sunburst inner sections. The surrounds of these are also in yellow gold, as are the new, slightly fatter, Chromalight-filled hour markers. The black subdials combined with punchy color remind me a bit of Tudor’s Pink Chrono, making me wonder if this is a new design language for the group.