Hands-On: The New Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona With A Green Dial — Don’t Call It The “John Mayer II”
More than a platinum creation with an ice-blue dial, the combination of yellow gold and green is the ultimate expression of Rolex luxury. Luscious and alluring yellow gold dates back to ancient civilizations, and green is the brand’s signature color, often used in a celebratory way, that puts Rolex connoisseurs on high alert. Mix the material with the color and use it on the brand’s famous chronograph, and things start heating up. You can imagine my excitement when I got to go hands-on with the new yellow gold Daytona with a green dial. The watch’s rock-star-like charisma is exciting indeed, and it probably makes you think of the nickname its predecessor got. But please don’t call this Daytona the “John Mayer II.” That doesn’t do it justice. It also might get in the way of enjoying this lavish creation.
Rolex and nicknames… Some have made their way into the watch dictionary, but I feel others should not be there. “Pepsi” is okay, and so is “Coke,” but “Batgirl” and “John Mayer”? The first is too farfetched if you ask me, and the second is linked to a guy with an AP with his name on it — come on! A mea culpa is appropriate here since I also sometimes try to see if a sobriquet of my invention will stick, but I promise never to do that again. Anyway, let’s no longer refer to the Daytona 116508-0013 as the “John Mayer.” Consequently, that watch’s successor, the reference 126508-0008, will not be called the “John Mayer II.” Instead, let’s focus on the new yellow gold Daytona with a green dial and updated features while letting the watch speak for itself.
The new yellow gold Rolex Daytona with a green dial: it does strike a chord
Although the 2025 green-dial Daytona in yellow gold strikes a chord, we will refrain from giving it a pet name. Let’s also approach the watch as a watch. That might seem like the obvious thing to do, but the Daytona is something special. If you’re curious to know exactly what I mean, my article “The Rolex Daytona Is No Longer A Watch” will enlighten you.
The 2025 Daytona lineup is strong and very diverse. The green-dial reference 126508-0008 in yellow gold is a luxurious iteration priced at €48,800. It is a refined evolution of the 116508-0013, meaning the watch has become slimmer and has a revamped dial. The latter features slimmer applied indexes, hand, and tracks. The most significant differences between this new Daytona and its predecessor are the main dial’s different green shade and contrasting, gold-colored sub-dials instead of green ones.
The sub-dials make a big difference
When comparing the old and new green Daytona side by side, two things strike me most. First, the old “Rolex Green” color and its sunburst finish seem so much harsher and in your face than the hue and finish of the new one. Also, using red inside the green counters to bring some contrast to the tone-on-tone design was not very subtle. The new reference 126508-0008 sports a dial showing a toned-down shade of green. It’s lighter and less radiant, and instead of using matching sub-dials again, Rolex opted to make them the color of the case, bezel, and bracelet. And you know what? These gold ones really tie the room — sorry, the watch — together.
Does this green Daytona look familiar?
I’m treading on dangerous ground here when I say that after catching a first glimpse of the new green and gold Daytona, I thought of a custom job. Do you remember the Artisans de Genève Honey Green Rolex Daytona mod with its deep green Bakelite bezel, gold-colored sub-dials, and fully brushed yellow gold case and bracelet? Well, now you do. Let it sink in, and then take another look at the reference 126508-0008. What do you think? Rolex matches a gold bracelet to a bezel in the same material and doesn’t do a brushed-all-over finish, but the dials do have something in common.
Wrapping up and warming up
My favorite Daytona newcomer is the reference 126518LN, the yellow gold Daytona with a turquoise dial on an Oysterflex bracelet. Yes, it’s that borderline-distasteful, polarizing creature. In case you’re wondering why I’m not writing about that watch but, instead, this green creature, Jorg is even crazier about the turquoise-dial Daytona than I am, and he’s putting together an article on it. The yellow gold Daytona with a green dial — using a nickname for the watch would make for smoother writing, I must admit — has the same undeniable presence and charisma, and it’s fighting for second place on my list with the latest white gold Daytona with a meteorite dial. I’m slowly warming up to it.
What are your thoughts about the 2025 Daytona lineup and the green-dial version in this article? Does the new reference 126508-0008 outshine its nicknamed predecessor? Please let me know in the comments.
