At Baselworld yesterday Rolex unveiled a new black and blue GMT Master II and a 50th Anniversary Platinum Daytona. We have seen both pieces up close. The GMT Master II looks good and stays in line with the rest of the Rolex design DNA. This particular Rolex Daytona design, though, seems really out of place.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona-Platinum 50th Anniversary cover

The Daytona is an immensely appealing and highly collectible Rolex model, and while the choice to offer it in platinum for the first time seems like a good one, we do not quite understand what motivated them to make it with a brown ceramic bezel and baby blue dial. Not to say a Rolex Daytona like this will not sell, and not be collectible, because it will, but we just wonder: Why this particular color scheme? Why not a Panda dial or something historic, or more conservative?

Paul Newman Rolex Daytona

While we wish Rolex was as adventurous when designing new models, as they have been with their Rolex owned sister brand Tudor, it is as if they came out of left field with this Daytona design.

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Posted by:Jason Pitsch

Jason is a writer, photographer and is the founder of Professional Watches.