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Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
Ref. 116519LN
Sits in Rolex’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Rolex watches we list, which start at £5,355.
Price range £5,355 to £125,000 across 74 Rolex watches in stock.The Daytona's origins are in motorsport timing — a tool built for drivers who needed split-second lap measurement — but the 116519LN takes that foundation somewhere quite different. The combination of an 18ct white gold case, a grey dial and a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel produces what collectors call the Ghost configuration: a Daytona that reads as one continuous, drained palette rather than the contrasting registers of the sport versions. White gold replacing the dial's warmth with cool grey is not a subtle choice. The Oysterflex strap is more considered than it first appears. Titanium-nickel alloy blades run beneath the black elastomer, giving the strap enough rigidity to hold the watch steady without a bracelet's inflexibility, while cushioned inner pads distribute the 160 grams of solid white gold across the wrist. The Oysterlock clasp carries a 5mm comfort extension, so fit adjusts without tools between wearing conditions. The calibre 4130 is the reason the Daytona remained relevant through the quartz period and beyond: a vertical clutch eliminates the hand-jolt on chronograph start, a column wheel regulates switching, and 72 hours of reserve means a Monday morning start carries through to Thursday. Rolex built it to be serviced, and the architecture shows that intent.
- Reference
- 116519LN
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12.2mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Grey
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed tachymeter
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 4130
- Functions
- Chronograph, Small seconds, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.7mm
- 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 7 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona range (15), Back in Stock (4,528), Stainless Steel Watches (3,001), Automatic Watches (1,693), Chronograph Watches (1,151), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344) and Grey Dial Watches (236).
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 £40,450 on 1 October. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification |  116519LN | 26120ST.OO.1220ST.03 | 5235G-001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £39,950 | £39,950 | £36,950 |
| Case size | 40mm | 39mm | 40.5mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 72 hours | 38 hours | 48 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
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 47.7mm, 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 unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £39,950 is the cheapest of 4 UK retailers, against £41,950 at the dearest — a difference of £2,000.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its lowest recorded price since we began tracking it. It's ranged between £39,950 and £40,450, today it's £39,950.
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