Few watches are more intimately associated with the world of motorsport than the cheap fake Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. But did you know that it was originally known as the ‘Le Mans’?
When 1:1 replica Rolex UK became the official timekeeper of the Daytona International Speedway in 1962, the Swiss brand released the Cosmograph ref. 6239 (as made famous by Paul Newman) the following year to celebrate the occasion – however, it didn’t have ‘Daytona’ on its dial and was instead nicknamed ‘Le Mans’, after the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Later ref. 6239 models would indeed feature ‘Daytona’ text on their dials, but they were called ‘Le Mans’ first…
All this is to say that cheap fake Rolex chronographs and Le Mans have long had an association, long preceding Rolex becoming the French race’s official timekeeper in 2001. To this day, wearing a Rolex Daytona instantly evokes the glamour and history of time-honoured motorsports events like Le Mans. That’s partly why the aaa quality replica Rolex Daytona is such an icon.
Now, in 2023, Swiss movement replica Rolex has released a special version of the Daytona in honour of the 100th year of the 24 Hours of Le Mans that not only features unique nods to the endurance race but also pays homage to the now-legendary ref. 6239.
The AAA quality fake Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 24 Hours of Le Mans Edition (ref. 126529LN-0001) features an 18ct white gold case and Oyster bracelet, a black dial and a black bezel. So far, so normal. But take a closer look and you’ll realise it’s something special.
First of all, its ceramic tachymeter bezel features the number ‘100’ in red ceramic, referencing Le Mans’ centenary. Even cooler is its white chronograph subdials, which with their square-tipped scales, clearly reference the design of the high end copy Rolex ref. 6239’s ‘exotic’ or ‘Paul Newman’ dials.
Flip the Le Mans Daytona over and you’ll see that it’s got a transparent caseback – but the really eagle-eyed will spot that it’s also got a unique and exclusive movement. This new in-house calibre 4132 allows the hours of the Le Mans high quality replica Rolex Daytona’s chronograph function to be counted over twenty-four hours instead of the Daytona’s usual twelve – another nod to the race.
In short, it’s not just visually distinct but mechanically distinct from the normal Swiss super clone Rolex Daytona, making this special edition really rather special.