77 best watches of the year

Showstopping watch of the year

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona

From the moment we held it in our hands at BaselWorld the rainbow-hued Cosmograph Daytona was a sure-fire potential for this year’s Watches of the Year. Appealing to our inner love of colour we love its tongue-in-cheek appeal. It is crafted in solid 18ct yellow gold with a palette of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, mauve and pink sapphires, and more than 50 diamonds. This 40mm watch has Rolex proprietary calibre 4130, a self-winding mechanical chronograph and a 72-hour power reserve with details such as the pop-colour red chronograph and seconds hands contrasting the black lacquer dial and gold crystal counters. The Cosmograph’s case is crafted from a solid block of 18ct gold, while its fluted caseback has crystal made of virtually scratchproof synthetic sapphire. Meanwhile its calibre 4130 self-winding mechanical chronograph movement is, like all of Rolex’s perpetual movements, a certified Swiss chronometer that has passed the COSC tests. Yes it makes a statement, but we adore it for being that little bit more playful a timepiece from a brand that prides itself on tradition and classic styling. This rainbow-hued rebel was also revered by retailers and we’re sure it will be remembered for years to come — truly an icon of our generation.

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