The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is one of the most recognizable chronographs in the world, synonymous with motorsport racing and precision timekeeping. In the early 2000s, Rolex introduced a surprising departure from its traditionally understated chronograph line: a series of vibrant models that collectors have since nicknamed the Daytona “Beach” collection. 

While Rolex never officially used this name, the “Beach” nickname took hold thanks to the watches’ tropical color palettes, which created a more relaxed aesthetic. These models embraced lively tones, exotic materials, and white gold construction, resulting in some of the most visually striking and seldom-seen variants in the Daytona family. 

Each watch was based on the reference 116519, housed in an 18k white gold Oyster case measuring 40mm in diameter. Powering the series was the Rolex Caliber 4130 automatic chronograph movement. Launched in 2000, the 4130 was the first self-winding chronograph movement developed entirely in-house by Rolex, replacing the earlier Caliber 4030, which had been based on the Zenith El Primero. The 4130 brought improved efficiency, increased reliability, and a 72-hour power reserve, all while reducing the number of components. The watches retained classic Daytona features, including screw-down pushers, a tachymeter bezel, three registers on the dial, 100 meters of water resistance, and a solid screw-down caseback. 

The Daytona Beach collection included four variants: pink, yellow, turquoise, and green, all paired with a color-matched lizard leather strap fitted with a white gold deployant clasp. The pink and yellow versions housed mother-of-pearl dials, prized for their iridescent shimmer and subtle tonal shifts. The turquoise and green models featured lively hardstone dials in rich, saturated tones. While all four are rare, the yellow mother-of-pearl, turquoise, and green chrysoprase editions have become especially sought-after among collectors. 

The yellow model showcases a golden-colored mother-of-pearl dial with its surface reflecting light in shifting shades of lemon, champagne, and gold. The coordinating yellow lizard strap reinforces the bright and summery nature of this Daytona. The blue Beach Daytona version is furnished with a smooth turquoise stone dial, celebrated for its saturated hue. Paired with a matching lizard strap, this colorway evokes clear, shallow waters, lending the chronograph an aquatic character. Finally, there’s the green model, fitted with a dial in chrysoprase — a vivid hardstone known for its intense, almost fluorescent tint — and matching green lizard strap.  

Regardless of the colorway, all of the dials include white gold applied Roman numerals for the hours, and instead of contrasting subdials, Rolex opted for monochromatic ones, outlined with white gold rings and punctuated with black markings. Above the running seconds subdial at 6 o’clock is the signature red DAYTONA inscription.    

These vibrant Daytona ref. 116519 models were produced in limited quantities in the early 2000s and were available exclusively through select retailers. Adding to their charm, each watch came housed in packaging that matched the dial and strap color. Rather than the traditional green, beige, and gold boxes Rolex is known for, these editions arrived in color-coordinating textured boxes, along with accessories also rendered in the same hue. 

Though Rolex never formally categorized these watches as such, the so-called “Beach” Daytona chronographs mark a memorable moment in the collection’s history when intense color and a more offbeat design sensibility came to the forefront.  

Today, the Daytona 116519 Beach models are regarded as important collector’s pieces. Their rarity, use of exotic materials, and more playful design language have only grown in appeal with time, especially in a market increasingly drawn to expressive and uncommon luxury watches. Rolex has occasionally revisited unconventional design executions in later Daytona references — such as the Rainbow, Eye of the Tiger, and Giraffe models — many of which have developed cult followings of their own. What sets the Beach variants apart from these gem-set creations is their reliance on unexpected color palettes and materials rather than diamonds, rubies, or sapphires for distinction. 

More than two decades since their debut, the Rolex Daytona Beach reference 116519 models remain among some of the most distinctive and collectible iterations of the Daytona lineage. Whether it’s the warmth of yellow mother-of-pearl, the clarity of turquoise, or the vividness of chrysoprase, each version reflects a moment when Rolex shifted its focus from the high-adrenaline racetrack toward a more leisurely setting.