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Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
Ref. 116503
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Daytona's connection to motorsport dates to the early 1960s, when Rolex sought a chronograph serious enough for the drivers at Daytona International Speedway. The 116503 arrived in 2016 as the two-tone expression of that lineage, pairing satin-finished steel outer links with polished 18ct yellow gold centre links on the Oyster bracelet — a combination that reads as dressed without being precious. The calibre 4130 inside is worth understanding. Rolex designed it around a vertical clutch and column-wheel architecture that reduces the total component count significantly against the movement it replaced, which means the chronograph engages without the needle jumping at start. The 72-hour reserve is a practical consequence of that redesign rather than a headline figure. At 12.4mm the case is genuinely slim for a 40mm chronograph — it clears a dress cuff without the bulk that most sport watches of this rating carry, and the Chromalight indices hold well into the evening without the greenish cast of older luminous treatments. The Oysterlock clasp includes a 5mm Easylink extension adjustable without tools, which matters on a bracelet that will see temperature changes and sleeve pressures across the day. At 158g the watch has presence on the wrist without becoming fatiguing.
- Reference
- 116503
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12.4mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 4130
- Functions
- Chronograph, Small seconds, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.5mm
- Power reserve
- 72 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona range (15), Automatic Watches (1,693), Chronograph Watches (1,151), Two-Tone Watches (448), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344) and Watch Price Drops (314).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 72-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Price history
This watch is currently at its lowest recorded price. It reached £21,950 on 14 September. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona alternatives
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| Specification | 116503 | 665.OX.1180.RX.1204 | LONGITUDE-WG-R-S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £18,055 | £19,800 | £17,325 |
| Case size | 40mm | 39mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 72 hours | 50 hours | — |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 72 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 47.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £18,055 is the cheapest of 6 UK retailers, against £24,450 at the dearest — a difference of £6,395.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its lowest recorded price since we began tracking it. It's ranged between £18,055 and £21,950, today it's £18,055.
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