Hodinkees 40 Favorite Watches Of 2023

March 22, 2023

Well, folks. Here it is. The formation of a new canon. The list you see here was compiled C after great deliberation C by the editors and staffers of Hodinkee to demonstrate how we view watch collecting today. Of all the timepieces currently in production, these are the 40 we think matter most. The ones we'd buy ourselves or recommend to our friends. They're watches that stand for something or represent a certain superlative C for instance, the best chronograph. The most coveted design piece. The most badass diver. The strongest value proposition. The Hodinkee 40 recognizes modern classics at every price point, as well as innovations that continue to push the industry forward. Prices start at $50 and go all the way up to $1 million. From quartz movements to mechanical wonders to the undisputed top-of-the-line smartwatch, our selections represent the breadth of contemporary collecting. The only limitations we placed on ourselves when making the list were that: (1) every watch is currently in production, and (2) none are a numbered limited edition. With these restrictions we had to exclude a number of our favorites, but we wanted the list to be useful C watches that are actually on the market, right now. Sure, some are hard to get. But every one is worth knowing about. We plan to update this list once or twice a year, as new releases blow our minds. That way it's a living document C you can bookmark it or share it, and know it's always up to speed with our evolving tastes and the vagaries of the market. One more thing: You'll notice this list is in alphabetical order. That's because we want your help ranking the Hodinkee 40. There's a poll at the end of this article. Please vote. In April, we'll reveal the results and crown the people's champ. With no further ado, the inaugural Hodinkee 40. A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Chronograph It just might be the world's best modern chronograph No, it's not as historically important as the Datograph, but the 1815's slimmed-down profile means it's more wearable. In 2017, Lange introduced a white gold version combined with a black dial, the 1815 we'd been waiting for all along. If you're the type of person who's regularly looking at high-end chronographs, this white metal/black dial combination is exactly what makes your heart C and savings C turn to mush. And with the 1815 Chronograph, the aesthetics are only half the story. Flip the watch over and you'll see Lange's caliber L951.5, the finest serially produced manual-wind chronograph being made today. It's got all the technical goodies you'd expect C column wheel, vertical clutch, jumping minute counter C but it's mostly discussed because it looks so damn good. Aficionados say the movement's depth makes it look like a mini-city, and it's one I wouldn't mind getting lost in. CTony Traina The white gold Lange 1815 chronograph measures 39.5mm by 11mm thick. The manual-wind caliber L951.5 features 60 hours of power reserve. For more, visit A. Lange & Sohne. Apple Watch Ultra The smartest smartwatch ever made Sometimes things are popular for a good reason. Adele has a great voice. Cheeseburgers are delicious. The Apple Watch is a useful tool that makes a lot of people's lives easier. Last year's Apple Watch Ultra built on what worked in previous models and added a handful of features C many useful (better battery life, temperature sensors, emergency siren) and some frivolous (new faces!) C which is kind of the crux of watch enthusiasm, no? In an industry where product changes can sometimes be as baffling as they are frustrating, the Apple Watch pushes us forward to places no timepiece has gone before. CNora Taylor The Apple Watch Ultra features a titanium case measuring 49mm. MSRP: $799. For more, visit Apple. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Ref. 16202 The integrated bracelet icon that needs no introduction Nowadays, you can find countless variations of the Royal Oak. In 1972, there was only one: the "Jumbo." Today, it's still the most important Royal Oak, if not the most important sport watch, full stop. In 2022, Audemars Piguet updated and improved the Royal Oak Jumbo for its 50th anniversary, introducing the 16202. The reference didn't bring dramatic changes, but when we're talking about the Royal Oak that's not what we want anyway. AP added a new, modern caliber with the specs we've come to expect from a sport watch, but kept the external dimensions the exact same. If you were pressed to choose only one modern AP, this is still the one. CDanny Milton The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Jumbo" Ref. 16202ST.OO.1240ST.01 measures 39mm x 8.1mm, and 50m of water resistance. MSRP: $33,200. For more, visit Audemars Piguet. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Black Ceramic 34 This one's for the ladiesand the fellas Audemars Piguet sure knows how to deliver on the unisex watch front. When this 34mm black ceramic watch was released back in the summer of 2021, it changed the game for all genders. Finally, a watch that was thoroughly modern in execution, yet conveniently sized for all of us who prefer things on the smaller side C a compact, jet-black, all-ceramic watch, complete with the elegantly slim caliber 5800, supplied by Vaucher. Let's hear it for form AND function. If it weren't a limited edition, the Carolina Bucci limited edition C another 34mm black ceramic Royal Oak, but with a subtle rainbow dial, might've been on this list. Every female collector I know is completely enamored with it. CMalaika Crawford The Black Ceramic Royal Oak Ref. 77350CE.OO.1266CE.03.A measures 34mm x 8.8mm thick and has an MSRP of $53,000. For more, visit Audemars Piguet. Breitling Aerospace SuperQuartz is just plain super A true '80s baby, the Breitling Aerospace launched as a quirky quartz take on the traditional pilot's watch style. The modern Aerospace EVO is a souped-up Chronograph with a minute repeater (surprise!), countdown timer, second time zone, alarm, and calendar. Still quartz-powered (though way more normal-looking in today's landscape) the Aerospace is powered by Breitling's chronometer-certified SuperQuartz caliber, which Breitling says is 10 times more accurate than standard quartz. Chock full of features, long-lasting, and designed to look like nothing else in the lineup, this model may not be as famous as its Breitling siblings. But in our minds the Aerospace is still a star. CNora Taylor The Breitling Aerospace features a titanium case measuring 43mm and uses a SuperQuartz movement with a chronograph, day, date, countdown timer, second time zone, alarm, and minute repeater. For more, visit Breitling. Bulgari Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar The world's thinnest perpetual calendar Few brands have been able to take a watch and make it a platform for a singular groundbreaking achievement. For Bulgari and the Octo Finissimo, breaking records is just another day at the office. It all started in 2014, when Bulgari set the record for the world's thinnest tourbillon. Today it's 2021's Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar that feels like the standard-bearer. Just 5.8mm thick, it features an automatic in-house movement that clocks in at just 2.75mm tall C and that ruthlessly knocked Audemars Piguet off the top spot for the thinnest perpetual calendar, a title it's held ever since. With unmistakable design language, titanium case, and an integrated bracelet, the watch wears comfortably and shockingly light. And you literally cannot top its horological prowess. CMark Kauzlarich The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar has a titanium case measuring 40mm x 5.8mm. It's powered by Bulgari's automatic in-house perpetual calendar caliber BVL 305, 2.75mm thick. MSRP: $71,000. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. Bulgari Serpenti (Yellow Gold) Drop-dead gorgeous I dare you to find a watch sexier than the Bulgari Serpenti. The yellow gold double-twirl wins every time. From the way its sinuous form grips your arm to the ribbed texture of the Tubogas bracelet and the subtle flash of diamonds on the bezel, the sum of these qualities just exude heady Italian glamor. Not all watches win awards for mechanical prowess; we think perfect design like this is equally worthy of celebration. The Serpenti has seen all sorts of twists and turns, it has morphed into multiple variations, with different metals, sizes, and even complications (tiny tourbillons!). But this model remains the most outstanding. If a yellow-gold Serpenti was good enough for Elizabeth Taylor, it's good enough for the rest of us. CMalaika Crawford The Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas features a 35mm 18-karat yellow gold curved case set with diamonds and a double-spiral 18-karat bracelet. For more, visit Bulgari. Cartier Crash An asymmetrical masterpiece that's more coveted than ever No legacy watch has had as prolific of a rise over the past few years as the Cartier Crash. Five years ago, a vintage Crash was a weird 1960s relic that sold for about $30,000 at auction, cared about by only a small group of in-the-know collectors. Slowly, then seemingly suddenly, the Crash was everywhere. Public figures were wearing vintage Crashes, and every real-deal collector started paying attention to the model. So did Cartier: In 2018, it brought the Crash back to its lineup to celebrate the reopening of its London boutique, where the watch was born in 1967. The new Crash is still about as rare as the original: Cartier only produces one a month, and you can bet they're reserved for your favorite collector's favorite collector. Today we see the Crash as a timeless design that represents everything Cartier is, totally singular and creatively unmatched. CTony Traina The Cartier Crash ref. WGCH0006 features a yellow-gold case measuring 22.5mm x 38.5mm. One piece is made per month, exclusively for the Cartier London boutique. Cartier Panthre (Yellow Gold) Yes, we are aware of the Tank. Right now, we prefer this cool kitty The Cartier Panthere in yellow gold is an unimpeachable crowd pleaser. It has an easy-to-manage quartz movement, a beautifully crafted linked bracelet, blue sword hands, Roman numerals, rail track minute counter, and sapphire crown. It is a simple elegance that doesn't overwhelm a beginner but still speaks to a seasoned veteran. Initially released in the '80s as a delicate response to the decade's opulence C more party-ready than a Tank and more blingy than a Must C the Panthre has aged into an classic all its own. CNora Taylor The Panthre de Cartier measures 23mm x 30mm and uses a quartz movement. MSRP: $21,600. For more, visit Cartier. Chopard Alpine Eagle 36 A modern sport watch that soars above the rest A beautifully finished automatic steel sport watch clocking in at 36mm just over $10,000? Where do I sign up? The Alpine Eagle is Chopard's entry into the steel sport watch boom of the past few years, but deeply rooted in its own history C taking cues from the long-gone St. Moritz but weaving in its modern manufacturing know-how. Chopard's own abrasion-resistant Lucent Steel A223 case surrounds an in-house, COSC-certified automatic caliber. Its good looks don't end there C many fans, including my Hodinkee compatriots, sing the praises of the watch's three-link integrated bracelet. The steel sport watch nest is crowded, but the Alpine Eagle is an excellent choice for collectors looking to soar above the ordinary. CNora Taylor The Chopard Alpine Eagle 36 has a steel case with 100m of water resistance. It uses Chopard's in-house COSC-certified caliber ?09.01-C with a 42-hour power reserve. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. Doxa Sub 300 Professional A quirky cult classic diver C in orange! The orange Professional Doxa Sub 300 is the modern expression of a charming tool watch design that dates back to 1967 C a time when sex was safe and diving was dangerous. Cousteau vibes abound, and nothing looks like, or wears like, a Doxa Sub 300 with its cushion case, bubble crystal, twin-scale no-decompression bezel, tiny hour hand, and fun-loving orange dial. For my money (and penchant for dive watches), the Doxa Sub 300 is among the coolest sport watches ever made. The design has aged beautifully and packs more charm per millimeter than you'll find in just about any other diver. CJames Stacey The Doxa Sub 300 measures 42.5mm and 13.4 thick. It features a COSC-certified automatic ETA caliber, screw-down crown, and 300 meters of water resistance. MSRP: $2,490. For more, visit Doxa. F.P. Journe Chronomtre Rsonance The defining work of this generation's master independent watchmaker There might not be a better watchmaking story on the Hodinkee 40 than the F.P. Journe Chronomtre Rsonance. While Fran?ois-Paul Journe has produced more complicated watches in the past (like his chiming Sonnerie Souveraine) or even present (the Astronomic is one of the most complicated on the market), the Rsonance has its roots in a phenomenon first observed in the 1600s. Some of history's greatest watchmakers have pursued the phenomenon, but none have mastered it like Journe. The double-dialed dual timezone display hints at the magic of the movement inside C two balances that beat side-by-side, unconnected, but in sync, with each of their vibrations harmonizing to create an incredibly accurate movement, appropriate for a man and brand obsessed with accuracy and pushing watchmaking to its technical limits. CMark Kauzlarich The F.P. Journe Chronomtre Rsonance features Journe's Caliber 1520 which uses two independent escapements and balances. Pricing starts at $136,700 in rose gold. For more, visit F.P. Journe. G-Shock DW5600 The quintessential G-Shock If you are not a watch nerd and just need a simple watch that's durable and accurately tells the time, then get yourself a G-Shock DW5600. If you are a watch nerd and need a simple watch that's durable and accurately tells the time, then you could also use a G-Shock DW5600. Basically anyone and everyone should own this watch. It's 200m water resistant, has a timer, stopwatch, alarm clock, and even a calendar. And maybe the best feature of them all is: It has a light! Pound for pound, feature for feature, this watch superbly balances real ruggedness with everyday wearability. And you get all of the above for less than a hundred bucks. CBrandon Menancio The G-Shock DW5600 has a resin case measuring 49mm x 43mm. It has an MSRP of $74.95 but can frequently be found cheaper at various retailers. For more, visit Casio. Grand Seiko SBGA413 The Snowflake, with a subtle pink twist The Grand Seiko SBGA413, aka Shunbun, is the quintessential watch from the largest luxury watch brand in the East. Sure, the SBGA211, aka the Snowflake, initially grabbed the world's attention, but the Shunbun is a bestseller in its own right. It has Grand Seiko's nearly proprietary Spring Drive movement that provides quartz-level accuracy and a seconds hand that sweeps smoothly across a subtly textured light pink dial inspired by scattered cherry blossom petals. Let's not forget that Zaratzu-polished feather-light titanium case and bracelet. Japanese craftsmanship meets Japanese nature. It's sublime. ?CBrandon Menancio The Grand Seiko SBGA413 has a 40mm titanium case and uses a 9R65 Spring Drive caliber that is accurate to +/-15 seconds per month. MSPR: $6,600. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical The value-packed introduction to that manual-winding lifestyle A handful of familiar names are always bandied about as answers to the age-old question: "What should my first mechanical watch be?" And the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is almost always at or near the top of that list. With a certain styling reminiscent of old military field watches, a slim 38mm case, and an incredibly useful 12- and 24-hour scale, the Khaki Field Mechanical takes faux-vintage to an accessible price point under 600 bucks. And it's not just an entry-level watch. Much like a G-Shock, you'll see this in collections that include Patek and Rolex. And if you're a newbie, this is your gateway to a future horological addiction. CDanny Milton The stainless steel Hamilton Khaki Field measures 38mm and features the manual-wind H-50 (ETA 2801-2), with an 80-hour power reserve. MSRP: $595. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. IWC Mark XX Part pilot's watch, part field watch it works all day, every day No other pilot's watch has quite the same history, dashing good looks and (relatively) modest luxury price point as the trusted IWC Mark XX. Since the Mark series came into its own with the Mark XI after WWII, the line has been a terrific option for anyone who wants a watch that's just as good on land as it is in the sky. With 100m of water resistance, a reasonable 40mm case, a simple dial layout that matches almost any attire, and a movement with a five-day power reserve, the Mark XX could even make the case for a one-watch collection. But who am I kidding? That's impossible! CBrandon Menancio The IWC Mark XX measures 40mm x 10.8mm, with 100 meters of water resistance. It's powered by IWC's caliber 32111, produced by ValFleurier. $5,250 For more, visit IWC. MB&F LM-101 A Legacy Machine from a magician and his friends Max Bsser & Friends (aka MB&F) don't make watches, they make machines. And while the brand's "Horological Machine" line with avant-garde style was its first, the "Legacy Machines" have taken off as an optimized blend of modern styling and traditional watchmaking. MB&F announced the LM-101 in 2014 with a comparatively affordable price, wearable 40mm size, and movement with a hairspring from friends at H. Moser & Cie. The movement was developed by independent watchmaking genius Kari Voutilainen and shown off through a dramatic domed crystal with a giant balance wheel floating over two enameled dials and a sunburst metal baseplate. The dial colors and metals have changed to keep the line fresh over the last nine years. If not for making something this wonderful, what are friends for? CMark Kauzlarich The MB&F Legacy Macine 101 measures 40mm and features a manual-wind movement developed by MB&F and designed and finished by Kari Voutilainen, displaying a three-dimensional flying balance wheel. For more, visit MB&F. Nomos Tangente 38 The definitive Bauhaus watch The Tangente 38 is the Nomos model most representative of the brand in both design and execution. It's minimal, versatile, and none other than F.P. Journe has sung the praises of Nomos as an incredible watchmaking value at its price point. The Tangente works well on anyone, not just ol' F.P., constructed with strong design principles that make it feel refined and timeless. At its price range, it's hard to find competitors that offer in-house movements with the same level of finishing and build quality. CTanTan Wang The Nomos Tangente 38 measures 6.6mm thick and features Nomos' in-house manual-winding Alpha movement with 43 hours of power reserve. MSRP: $2,330. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. Omega Seamaster 300M BondOmega Bond In 1993, Omega introduced the Seamaster Professional 300M, a modern take on the dive watch. The wave dial was an instant hit. Soon the blue Seamaster 300M even found its way onto James Bond's wrist. Over the past 30 years, Omega has never rested on the Seamaster's success, continuing to tweak the 300M for the better. The skeletonized hands have improved, the dial is now ceramic to match the bezel, and the movement is co-axial (not to mention a Master Chronometer). With each new generation the Seamaster 300M continues to cement its reputation as a classically styled but cutting-edge dive watch. It's simply one of the best modern divers around. CMark Hackman The Omega Seamaster 300M Co-Axial Master Chronometer measures 42mm x 13.5mm with 300m of water resistance. It uses Omega's METAS-certified automatic caliber 8800. MSRP: $5,600 on bracelet. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Hesalite "Moonwatch" says it all Up until today, the list of essential watches according to Hodinkee wasn't a list at all C it was the Speedmaster Professional. "I'm not saying you have to keep it," Ben Clymer wrote in 2016, "but I really think each man or woman who loves watches owes it to themselves to own a manually wound, three-register Speedmaster at some point in their lives." We still love it and always will. In 2016, the Speedmaster to own was a vintage example or a "Pre-Moon." But Ben and the vintage nerds didn't have the new-for-2021 Moonwatch equipped with Omega's superb caliber 3861. Incremental improvements over more than half a century have given us the ultimate modern Speedmaster. Go with the hesalite crystal if you're like me and want the old-school Moonwatch feel, though the "sapphire sandwich" is a nice way of Omega flexing. CRich Fordon The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph uses Omega's METAS-certified caliber 3861. It measures 42mm x 13.6mm and features 50m of water resistance; it has a Hesalite crystal and closed caseback. MSRP: $6,600 on bracelet. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Cal. 403 A tremendous movement with power for days The Big Crown Pointer Date has been central to the Oris catalog since its introduction in 1938. In 2021, a refreshed Big Crown Pointer Date arrived with the in-house caliber 403, which boasts a five-day power reserve, resistance to magnetism, 10-year service interval, and better-than-COSC accuracy. A sleeker bezel (along with updated font and hands) pumped new life into the model. Oris remains one of the world's most beloved independent watchmakers, and this is the piece that represents both where it's been and where it's heading. CMark Hackman The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date features Oris' in-house automatic caliber 403 with a five-day power reserve. The steel case measures 38mm x 13mm and has 50m of water resistance. MSRP: $3,700. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante A sleek sport watch with an innovative complication During a time when just about every brand has its riff on a sport watch, Parmigiani does something truly original. The brand introduced its Tonda PF line in 2021, but the GMT Rattrapante from 2022 is what brought the collection into its own. The complication is an absolute joy to use C a button is discreetly hidden in the teardrop lug at 8 o'clock. Press it to advance the white gold hour hand, and a yellow gold hour hand is revealed below to track home time. Other than that, the GMT Rattrapante stays sleek, slim, and understated, the defining traits of the Tonda PF that've quickly made it a world-class sport watch. CTony Traina The Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante has a steel case measuring 40mm x 10.7mm with 60m of water resistance. It also features a guilloche blue dial and knurled platinum bezel. The caliber PF051 is a micro-rotor caliber with a"split GMT" function for dual time zone display. MSRP: $27,000. For more, visit Parmigiani Fleurier. Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 5270 The most important complication combination in high horology, now in-house The perpetual calendar chronograph is to Patek Philippe what the Daytona is to Rolex. And yet when it was introduced in 2011, the 5270 wasn't well-received. Sure, it was Patek's first perpetual calendar chronograph with an in-house caliber, but some thought the design was too big, too bulky, or just unbalanced. But over the past decade-plus, the 5270 has bettered its aesthetics to match the achievement that is Patek's in-house CH 29-535 PS Q. Today, the 5270 is offered in a trio of metals C yellow gold, rose gold (with matching rose gold bracelet), and 2022's platinum version. While it might not have the collector following of the previous references in Patek's all-important lineage (yet), there's no doubt that, as with all Patek perpetual calendar chronographs, it's only a matter of time. CTony Traina The Patek Philippe 5270 features the caliber CH 29?535 PS Q, Patek's first in-house perpetual chronograph movement. It measures 41mm x 12.4mm and starts at $187,400. For more, visit Patek Philippe. Patek Aquanaut 5167A A modern sport watch that builds on Genta's legacy If you want a simple stainless steel sport watch from Patek Philippe in 2023, the Aquanaut is really your only option. Introduced in 1997, the Aquanaut is Patek's most recent attempt at a casual sport watch, complete with a tropic rubber strap. It's smaller and less expensive than the Nautilus, while still managing to capture the essence of Grald Genta's design. The Aquanaut is not exactly a secret and remains difficult for mere mortals to buy at retail, but the demand is justified. Few watches have been as important to Patek's history over the past 25 years. CTony Traina The Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A-001 has a steel case measuring 40.8mm x 8.1mm that comes on a black rubber strap. It uses Patek's caliber 26?330 SC with a 45-hour power reserve. MSRP: $24,250. For more, visit Patek Philippe. Ressence Type 1 Slim Design so good, it needs no introduction The avant-garde Belgian watchmaker Ressence is one of the only brands confident enough not to slap its name on the dial C the design speaks for itself. Nothing else looks like a Ressence. Nothing else works like a Ressence. Nothing else has the audacity to introduce a whole new way of time telling like the Ressence Orbital Convecs System (which shortens to the acronym ROCS, and which does indeed rock). The watches are not easy to find, or to afford C and in models like the 46mm Type 5, they're also not easy to wear. But the Type 1 Slim shrinks and flattens the case size (by at least 4mm in each direction) and knocks 15 grand off the price. So even the bill is slimmer. ?CNick Marino The Ressence Type 1 Slim measures 42mm x 11mm and is water resistant to 100m. The orbital display system uses Ressence's automatic ROCS system to show the hours, minutes, seconds, and day of the week. For more, visit the Hodinkee Shop. Richard Mille RM27 Series A trophy watch, yes. But also a technical marvel that's so light it floats Richard Mille, the most divisive brand in horology, continues to rack up achievements in mechanical and material innovation. It has established an instantly recognizable design language. And the model you see here is the one we think best reflects the virtues of a watchmaker that routinely charges seven figures a pop. Would we actually wear it? Hell yes, we would.The RM 27 series was made in partnership with tennis champ and RM brand ambassador Rafael Nadal, specifically developed for Rafa to wear while he plays in matches. The original RM27 blew our minds when it floated on water in 2010. Then in 2020, the latest RM27-04 upped the ante with its ability to resist accelerative forces in excess of 12,000 Gs, all while only weighing a mere 30 grams, including the strap! Which works out to about $33,000 per gram. CMalaika Crawford For more on the Richard Mille RM27 series, visit Richard Mille. Rolex Day-Date 36 Ref. 128238 The dress watch to end all dress watches It's as perfect as an Eames chair. As stylish as a 911. As beautiful as Audrey Hepburn. As dignified as Sidney Poitier. As immutable as the laws of physics. With its applied hour markers, supreme legibility, fluted bezel, champagne dial, and general bearing of elegance, the Day-Date looks almost exactly the same today as it did 40 years ago, which is the point. We are all for progress. But to change something this perfect would be a crime. CNick Marino The Rolex Day-Date ref. 128238 has a yellow-gold case measuring 36mm x 12.1mm with 100m of water resistance. It's powered by Rolex's COSC-certified caliber 3255 with 70 hours of power reserve. MSRP: $35,000. For more, visit Rolex.? Rolex Rainbow Daytona The planet's most exciting gem-set timepiece and the rainbow every other brand is still chasing Rainbows are everywhere in watchmaking these days, and the modern lineage begins with Rolex. We would argue that it also ends with Rolex. One thing's for sure: The Rainbow Daytona sets the benchmark for gem-setting in watchmaking. The quality of craftsmanship and calibration, the gradient of hand-selected sapphires, it's all so goodand so Rolex.