Special Daytona ‘Le Mans’ 126529LN

Mechanical watches and automobiles have been closely connected since their inception. Mechanical watches that embody the highest level of technology and motorsports are not essential for daily life, But we cannot help but be fascinated by these two industries that fiercely compete for the title of ‘the best’.

Daytona Le Mans 24 / © Rolex

In June 2023, The Le Mans 24 Hours 100th Anniversary Special Daytona was released unexpectedly and shook the hearts of watch enthusiasts. With its significance as the 100th anniversary and its unique design, The Daytona ‘Le Mans’ edition received an explosive response immediately after its unveiling. Now, A few months later, It has started to appear in the resale market. As watch lovers around the world expected, This model is commanding extremely high prices in the market.

The Birth of Daytona ‘Le Mans’

Daytona and Le Mans are the two most prestigious endurance car races in the world. The 24 Hours at Daytona is held in the United States, While the Le Mans 24 Hours is held in France. Every year, Car manufacturers develop the best racing cars that can maintain peak performance for the honor of their brands.

24 Hours at Daytona © The Speed Journal

Since its inception in 1923, The Le Mans 24 Hours has been recognized as the most prestigious race on the global stage. The cars participating in the race must run continuously for 24 hours (with three drivers per team). Rolex is currently the official sponsor of both races. However, Ref. 126529LN does not commemorate the Le Mans 24 Hours simply because Rolex is the official sponsor.

Le Mans 24 © 24H Le Mans

In fact, The Daytona originally debuted under the name Le Mans. Although the period was very short, The first Daytona released in 1963 was known as Le Mans until 1964.

Rolex Le Mans Advertisement, 1964 © Time and Watches

However, Not long after, Rolex partnered with the Daytona 24 Hours held in the United States and named the watch ‘Daytona’. Since 1965, All Daytonas have had the DAYTONA title on the dial, And the Daytona has now become the most famous watch in the world.

Ref. 126529LN

Now that we have explained the background of Daytona and Le Mans, Let us explore the details of the watch itself.

Rolex Daytona 126529LN

The case and bracelet of the Daytona ‘Le Mans’ are the same as the new Daytona lineup Ref. 1265XX, Which was first unveiled at Watches and Wonders in March 2023. However, Unlike the existing ceramic bezel Daytona, What makes the Daytona ‘Le Mans’ feel unique? The answer lies in the dial. The sub-dials that indicate the chronograph timer function feature a retro design that is very different from the modern Daytona.

Daytona Ref. 6239 produced from 1963 to 1969 © Bob’s Watches

The sub-dials of the modern Daytona have a circular ring, But the ‘Le Mans’ pays homage to the ‘Paul Newman’ dial, Which was adopted by many early models, And does not have this ring. There is another small but symbolic detail. The number 100 on the tachymeter scale is marked in red to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The Special Movement Cal. 4132 of Daytona ‘Le Mans’

The distinguishing feature of the Daytona ‘Le Mans’ is also hidden inside.

Cal. 4132 © Rolex

The new Daytona lineup has been upgraded from Cal. 4130 to Cal. 4131. The Daytona ‘Le Mans’ is equipped with the unique Cal. 4132 movement, Which is the only one in the catalog.

Daytona ‘Le Mans’ equipped with Cal. 4132 © Rolex

While Cal. 4131 supports a timer function up to 12 hours, Cal. 4132 features a 24-hour timer function that matches the 24-hour Le Mans race. This function is reflected in the 24-hour sub-dial at the 9 o’clock position.

The Value of Daytona ‘Le Mans’

Although the Daytona Le Mans is not a limited edition, It is a model with rarity comparable to a limited edition. Rolex does not produce catalog models as limited editions, But the ‘Le Mans’ can be considered as rare as one. It is estimated that fewer than 20 pieces are currently available in the resale market.

Because this model is the latest and is distributed in extremely small quantities, It is difficult for both beginners and enthusiasts to grasp the trends in the domestic retail and resale markets. The resale price of the Daytona Le Mans, Which has begun to appear in overseas resale markets, Starts at around 300 million KRW. The highest price is hovering in the mid to high 700 million KRW range. The price is similar to that of artworks seen at auctions, Setting a threshold that only the world’s wealthiest can accept. We look forward to the day when this watch will be available in Korea as well.