At Baselworld yesterday, Rolex unveiled a new black and blue GMT Master II and a 50th Anniversary Platinum Daytona.

We have seen both pieces up close. The GMT-Master II looks good and stays in line with the rest of Rolex’s design DNA. This particular Rolex Daytona design, though, seems really out of place.

The Daytona is an immensely appealing and highly collectible Rolex model, and while the choice to offer it in platinum for the first time seems like a good one, we do not quite understand what motivated them to make it with a brown ceramic bezel and baby blue dial. Not to say a Rolex Daytona like this will not sell, and not be collectible, because it will, but we wonder: Why this particular color scheme? Why not a Panda dial or something historic, or more conservative?

The 50th Anniversary Daytona in Platinum (Ref. 116506) comes in a 40 mm diameter platinum case and is powered by Rolex’s automatic in-house caliber 4130 movement.

While we wish Rolex were as adventurous when designing new models as they have been with their Rolex-owned sister brand Tudor, it’s as if they came out of left field with this Daytona design.

 

Photos by Rolex.