Something got me started. In fact, it was Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazário, who was attending the FIFA World Cup. He was wearing the yellow gold Rolex Daytona 126518LN with a turquoise dial, which debuted last year at Watches and Wonders. My first thought was, “Why are you wearing ‘my’ watch?” It was a rather ridiculous thought because I don’t own that watch. But from the first time I laid eyes on it and, immediately after, put it on my wrist, it put a spell on me. The combination of yellow gold, a turquoise lacquered dial, and a black Oysterflex bracelet might sound obnoxious. In reality, though, it’s funky, fresh, and catchy — just like the 1991 Simply Red hit song “Something Got Me Started,” which contains the line “I’d give it all up for you.” And I can’t get those words out of my head while writing about “my” Daytona.
There’s no doubt in my mind you’ve heard the Simply Red song “Something Got Me Started,” if not when it came out in September 1991, then later in a club in the shape of remixes by Steve “Silk” Hurley or Paul Oakenfold. The song was re-recorded for the 2005 album Simplified and re-released as a single in January 2006. As I said, you must have heard this song at least once in your life because it simply won’t go away. Honestly, I’m not a big Simply Red fan, but I do recognize a catchy tune, and “Something Got Me Started” sure is that.
I’d give all up for the yellow gold Rolex Daytona 126518LN with the turquoise dial
The song apparently also has a spot in my subconscious music library because I spotted the yellow gold Rolex Daytona 126518LN with a turquoise dial on the wrist of Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazário, who was attending the FIFA World Cup, and since that moment, I keep hearing Simply Red’s frontman, Mick Hucknall, singing “I’d give it all up for you” in the back of my head. I mean the watch, not Nazário. But why would I give it all up for the yellow gold Rolex Daytona 126518LN, and what is “all”?
First things first: what is the Daytona 126518LN? This particular Cosmograph Daytona has a 40 × 46 × 11.9mm 18K yellow gold case with a 20mm lug spacing. The watch comes on an Oysterflex bracelet and features a black ceramic bezel with numerals and markings that match the yellow gold case. The striking, bright turquoise lacquered dial features three contrasting black sub-dials, and the black text on the dial’s upper half complements this shade of blue. The dial is paired with 18K yellow gold applied markers and yellow gold hands filled with white Super-LumiNova to ensure excellent readability in low-light conditions. Additionally, the sub-dials all feature yellow gold hands and details. Lastly, a hint of red, in the form of the Daytona name, appears above the sub-dial at 6 o’clock.
Why is this Daytona “my” watch?
I recognize the Daytona is something special. I would even go so far as to state that the Rolex Daytona is no longer a watch. The Daytona has become a symbol of status, a steady currency, or even a commodity; it’s no longer just any old chronograph. But if you focus only on the material aspects, the Daytona is a state-of-the-art mechanical chronograph with a distinct look. Rolex outfits the current generation of Daytona chronographs with the in-house caliber 4131. This chronometer-certified automatic chronograph movement debuted in 2023 and is accurate to ±2 seconds per day. The 44-jewel caliber ticks at 28,800 vph underneath an all-gold case back, providing a 72-hour power reserve. Additionally, it features a Chronergy escapement, Paraflex shock absorbers, and optimized ball bearings.
The tech doesn’t stop with the movement. The Oysterflex bracelet is something else. At first, I thought Rolex exaggerated a bit when stating that the black rubber Oysterflex is a bracelet, not a strap. It looks like a strap, after all. But the Oysterflex is made with an elastomer molded around two titanium-nickel metal blades, making it flexible without stretching. And this justifies using the word “bracelet.” It’s a comfortable bracelet, too. On the underside, integrated cushioning creates a subtle gap between the bracelet and the skin, improving airflow and wearability throughout the day. This really isn’t your average rubber strap.
Apart from being comfortable, the black Oysterflex bracelet matches the sub-dials and the ceramic bezel of the reference 126518LN and powerfully contrasts with the vibrantly colored dial, the yellow gold case, and the matching gold clasp. And that clasp, with its Glidelock extension system for precise, tool-free micro-adjustments, is a work of technical art.
What would I give up for the Daytona 126518LN?
During last year’s edition of Watches and Wonders, I put the Daytona 126518LN on my wrist, and I was immediately smitten. But a press meeting lasts only an hour, so I could only spend a short time with it before leaving the watch behind.
It’s as Mick Hucknall so soulfully sings:
Something got me started
You know that I will love you
Lately, since we parted
I truly know that I need you
I’d give it all up for you (yes, I would)
I’d give it all up for you (yes, I would)
I’d give it all up for you (yes, I would)
I’d give it all up for you (yes, I would)
The powerful “yes, I would” tells of deep regret and unconditional devotion. The breakup with his loved one leads Mick Hucknall to admit he was wrong and prompts him to make the ultimate sacrifice to win his partner back. Now we finally get to the part where I reveal what I would give up for the turquoise-dial yellow gold Daytona I left behind in that warm room in Geneva. My entire watch collection, perhaps?
If I were to sell every watch I own, I might raise enough cash to fund the turquoise-dial Daytona of my dreams. If I had done so the moment the watch was released, it would have been easier to raise the funds than it is now. When the watch debuted in April 2025, the retail price was €37,700. A year later, the price has gone up to €41,800. And that’s the price you pay if your local dealer allows you to purchase one. If that doesn’t happen, buying one through Chrono24 is an option, but prices start at roughly double retail.
Is it worth the sacrifice?
A quick calculation tells me that if I were magically allocated a Daytona 126518LN, I could buy one. But that would mean the Daytona would be my only watch apart from my MoonSwatch, which I’d keep. I would have to give up my Omega Speedmaster Replica 3594.50, Grand Seiko Tough Quartz SBGX341, and recent acquisition, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time. Even my coveted, quirky Chronoswiss Timemaster would exit. Contemplating this scenario sent shivers down my spine, so I trashed that idea real fast.
Selling alternative stuff is also not an option. Apart from the fact that it won’t bring in enough money, selling my bikes to fund a watch feels like blasphemy and would, in real life, destroy not just my physical health but also my mental wellbeing. Who said I could sell a kidney? Well, except for Iran, selling human organs for financial profit is strictly illegal globally. And since I’m not going to sell a kidney on the black market, the answer is no.
I could eat and drink less, skip vacations, and stop buying clothes, but that’s not realistic. Saving money is an option, but it’s a slow one. And by the time I think I’ve accumulated enough cash, years have passed, and Rolex prices have risen numerous times over. By then, the Daytona 126518LN could also be discontinued, making it even harder to acquire one. So, what am I to do?
Enjoy the desire
It turns out that I wouldn’t give it all up for a Daytona. That’s a sensible choice, I think. But what’s left in that case? Desire. That’s the fundamental power behind human motivation. It sparks creativity, for instance, and drives personal growth. Desire keeps us moving forward, gives us purpose, and ultimately defines who we are. However, desire is not about ownership. Acquiring a watch is often just our way of trying to hold on to a feeling that can never be contained in steel, titanium, or gold. The watch itself is only the vessel. What we truly chase is the emotion it stirs. We want to experience a sense of achievement, the connection to history, the promise of adventure, or simply the quiet satisfaction of wearing something that resonates with us.
Perhaps that’s why the pursuit rarely ends with the purchase — because the feeling we seek exists beyond the watch itself. And since I recognize that, collecting becomes less about possession and more about appreciation. The absence of the need to own gives way to the joy of experiencing. As a result, a liberating feeling of freedom emerges. It’s a feeling of calm and peace. And now I can say this: let others like Ronaldo enjoy “my” Daytona. I’m sure none of the watch’s current owners experience and enjoy the same deep feelings I do for it.