Such hard-stone dials are made through a difficult and complex process. Before mounting it onto a brass dial base, a perfect piece of natural material must be cut into incredibly thin slices. Successful examples are especially rare as a significant percentage of dials are lost during production due to the material’s fragility. As a result, well-preserved pieces are highly prized by collectors seeking rare and distinctive expressions of the Daytona.
Reference 116518
Produced between 2000 and 2016, the reference 116518 represents a more elegant interpretation of the chronograph by Rolex. The model combines sportiness with a more formal look thanks to its 18k yellow gold construction, leather strap, and deployant clasp. At its core is the in-house automatic chronograph calibre 4130, a movement celebrated for its robustness, efficiency, and reduced component count compared to earlier designs. The reference was available in a variety of dial styles during production, from traditional champagne, black, and white to more unusual materials like meteorite and mother-of-pearl, as well as sportier racing-style dials with Arabic numerals and contrasting accents.