A Pot of Gold at the End of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow

As Rolex watch aficionados were eagerly anticipating the release of the new model Sky Dweller and the  Submariner 114060M at BaselWorld 2012, they were treated to a timepiece which was hard to miss.  The New Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Rainbow.  The bezel is embedded with a rainbow array of Sapphire crystals. While some may think the watch is a tad to colorful, I can definitely see its mass appeal.  This timepiece has everything going for it.  Like those gorgeous, smart, rich, popular girls who sweep across college campuses watched with admiration and envy. 

So here is the 10 reasons why you would want the New Oyster Perpetual Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

a) A Rolex - luxury watch brand known by all.
No explanation required as to the quality of the watch.  Status symbol right on your wrist. 

b) The Watch is an Oyster Perpetual - Click to read story behind the watch.
Groundbreaking innovation of 1926 exponentially increasing water resistance, dust resistance and shock absorbancy of the timepiece. (The Watch was actually advertised in a fishbowl for dramatic effect.) Now almost 90 years down the line Rolex is experimenting with a Rolex Deepsea Challenge, which can remain water resistant to a depth of 12,000 meters or 40,000 feet.  This Oyster Perpetual Model is water resistant to 100 meters or 330 feet. 

c) The timepiece is equipped with a Perpetual Rotor.  The perpetual rotor is a highly efficient self-winding mechanism consisting of a half moon rotor, which is affixed to a central pivot, but which can pivot back and forth in response to the natural motion of the wearers wrist. Energy transmitted to the mainspring has a fifty hour power reserve.  

d) The watch is a Superlative Chronometer.  Superlative is a Rolex trademark to accentuate the distinction of a Chronometer.  Unlike the Chronometer used in nautical navigation of days gone by.  Chronometers today are a title of distinction and quality awarded to a watch movement, which has undergone stringent COSC testing performed over 15 days and nights.  Click here for more information about COSC.  This mark ensures the movement is capable of withstanding environmental influences while still maintaining perfect precision and working order. 

e)  If you are a professional race car driver or an enthusiast there of.  The Daytona Cosmograph is equipped with two critical  racing features.  Designed for the  professional race car driver in 1963, the Daytona Cosmograph is equipped with a chronograph and a tachymeter scale on the bezel enabling the driver to calculate elapsed time on the speedway and calculate average speed. This chronograph is accurate to a whopping 1/8th of a second with handy 30 minute counter placed at the 3 'o'clock and a 12 hour counter at the 9 'o'clock.  The small seconds hand is situated above the 3 'o'clock.  


f) If you happen to pass through a strong magnetic field - the oscillator of the timepiece is equipped with an innovative Paramagnetic blue PARACHROM hairspring which markedly increases the precision of the timepiece and increases its shock resistance up to 10 times more than that of a regular ferromagnetic alloy hairspring.

g) The security of a watch is only as good as the clasp that keeps it on the wrist. No worries losing this baby.  The watch is equipped with a folding Oysterlock Safety Clasp ensuring that one will not find a wrist empty of watch.

h) If the Rolex fits wear it and to increase this likelihood, a Rolex timepiece is equipped with a patented extension system known as the Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link. So don't despair if the bracelet is a touch to snug. 

i)And ladies - the watch is a perfect beauty. A rainbow of 36 baguette-cut  sapphires ring the bezel in perfectly matched shades of color.  Available in 18k yellow or white gold, the 40 mm case is flanked by diamond set lugs.  The crown guards are embedded with diamonds as well creating the look of pure luxury.
The black lacquer dial beams with yellow or white gold crystal counters where 8 diamonds in gold settings mark the hours between the 18 ct gold 15,30,45 and 60 numerals.

j) The final desirable appeal of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is the fact it will match every last piece of clothing in one wardrobe.

The Rolex Oyster Worlds First Waterproof Watch Put to the Test

Mercedes Gleitze Rolex Oyster

Mercedes Gleitze

In 1926, Rolex unveiled the "Oyster" which claimed to be the first "waterproof" and "dust-proof" watch.  The term "waterproof" has now been replaced by "water resistance", but back in the Roaring Twenties sweeping statements were all the rage.  Rolex had placed the movement in an hermetically (air tight) sealed case providing maximum protection and for further security added a screw-off front and case back and a screw down winding crown making the watch completely water tight.  However, just by saying a watch is waterproof does not vouch for its credibility until tested... and tested it was - around the neck of a typist. A typist who successfully swam across the English Channel in 10 challenging hours.

Her name: Mercedes Gleitze The Date: October 7th, 1927.  When she first broached the subject of swimming the English Channel - an arm of the Atlantic Ocean separating Southern England and Northern France - her friends were quite doubtful to say the least, but Mercedes Gleitze - who was after all an excellent typist- was adamant.  She wasn't successful at first, not for the first seven times that is... and then at 2:55am on a the foggy morning of October 7th, 1927,  Mercedes Gleitze swam stroke by stroke across the English Channel with trainer ,Mr. G. H. Allan, in a row boat alongside her.  

Unfortunately there was not much fanfare surrounding the victorious swim and not as much proof as the public wanted. Mercedes Gleitze was furious, and said if the people wanted proof, the people would get proof.  Thus on October 21st, 2 weeks after her swim of victory, she entered the water again.  What she did not realize, or maybe she did, was that two weeks in October meant two weeks closer to winter, and the water may have cooled down quite a bit.

Rolex Oyster Famous Fish Bowl Add

  The controversy surrounding her swim caught the attention of Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, who had one of the best publicity ideas in horological history. He would put the "Waterproofness" of the Rolex Oyster to the test around the neck of the much publicized Mercedes Gleitze as she set out to cross the English Channel for the second time in two weeks. On October 21st, at  4:21am,  a large cheering crowd saw Mercedes Gleitze wade into the Channel.  She started off well in water that was a good 6 degrees lower than her victorious swim, smiling and acknowledging her onlookers, but by 1pm exhaustion and hypothermia began to set in.  She wanted to sleep. She begged to sleep.  By 2pm her condition worsened and at 2:45, 7 miles from the English  coastline, she was pulled onto the boat unable to complete her challenge. This could have been a great disappointment for Mercedes Gleitze, but Hans Wilsdorf would have none of that. The Rolex Oyster HAD been successful and maintained its mechanical integrity for ten long hours submerged in water. He had plans for Mercedes Gleitze.  With Hans Wilsdorf's assistance, she became a sports celebrity.

Men's Daytona Paul Newman Special Edition

After all she was the one who tested the Rolex Oyster for over 10 long wet cold hours in the English channel.   Mercedes Gleitze became one of the first athletes to endorse the Rolex brand or any brand for that matter.  She graced Rolex advertisements and thanks to her "engagement by mail " saga spent years in the limelight. Rolex still acknowledges Mercedes Gleitze and her role in the promulgation of the Rolex Oyster. The Rolex Oyster has become a testament of endurance used by athletes and adventurers.