239 Rolex A very fine, attractive and rare Daytona "Rainbow" chronograph wristwatch in yellow gold and diamonds, with rainbow-colored sapphire-set bezel, guarantee and presenation box, reference 116598RBOW.

Estimate: € 200.000 –⁠ 400.000

There are watches that impress, and then there are watches that captivate, a visual crescendo, a symphony of color and craft. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116598RBOW belongs firmly in the latter category. Aptly nicknamed the “Rainbow,” it is a dazzling expression of Rolex’s most audacious artistry—an unapologetic celebration of color, rarity, and refinement. Launched in 2012, the inaugural version appeared in yellow gold, its bezel ablaze with a precisely curated gradient of colored sapphires. Each stone—painstakingly selected by Rolex’s in-house gemologists—contributes to an unbroken arc of chromatic brilliance: from deep, fiery reds to glowing oranges, zesty citrus hues melting into lush greens, serene blues, and velvety violets. The execution is nothing short of alchemical. Achieving such perfect tonal transitions demands not only access to the world’s finest sapphires, but the ability to cut and set each gemstone to exacting tolerances—a process as technically demanding as it is visually rewarding. The example offered here is a superb, well-preserved specimen of the original yellow gold execution, it is complete with its set of accessories and original guarantee. Discontinued and fiercely sought-after, it is more than a gem-set watch—it is a cultural artifact, a grail for the contemporary collector, and a radiant reminder of Rolex’s ability to astonish not just with engineering, but with emotion.