What the Rainbow Daytona Is
The Rolex Daytona Rainbow is a 40 mm chronograph. The bezel holds 36 baguette-cut sapphires in a color run from red through violet. Rolex released the yellow gold reference 116598RBOW and the white gold reference 116599RBOW in 2012. The Everose gold reference 116595RBOW came in 2018. Hour markers are baguette sapphires or diamonds, set per reference. The movement is the calibre 4130, an automatic chronograph with 44 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour, and a 72-hour power reserve. Water resistance is 100 m. Rolex does not publish production numbers for these references.
What a Replica Version Contains
Replica Rainbow Daytonas use a 40 mm case in 316L or 904L stainless steel, or in gold-plated steel. Movement choices are a Miyota or Seiko automatic, an Asian 7750, or a clone of the calibre 4130. Low-cost units use quartz. The bezel stones are the main variable: cubic zirconia, colored glass, spinel, or lab-grown corundum. A stainless steel case weighs less than a solid gold original. Ask which metal is under the plating, because plated cases lose color at the lugs and crown.
Gradient and Stone Count
The genuine bezel runs red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet around the dial. Replica bezels vary. Frequent faults are a repeated color, a dull blue at 6 o'clock, and a bezel with 34 or 40 stones instead of 36. Count the stones. Compare the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock colors. Lab sapphire shows sharper color than glass, which looks flat in shade. Ask for photos in daylight and in shade before you buy.
Movement and Function
Chronograph pushers should start, stop, and reset the central seconds hand. Subdials sit at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. A 6 o'clock subdial that tracks running seconds instead of chronograph hours points to a modified 7750 layout. The date sits at 3 o'clock under a cyclops lens on sapphire crystal. Ask for the movement name and the beat rate. A 28,800 vph beat rate matches the calibre 4130 and the 7750.
Checks Before Buying
- Count bezel stones: 36.
- Check case diameter: 40 mm.
- Check lug width: 20 mm.
- Confirm case metal: steel, plated, or solid gold.
- Run the chronograph start, stop, and reset cycle.
- Check the crystal for AR coating and the cyclops magnification.
- Ask for serial and caseback photos.
Price Range
Replica Rainbow Daytonas sell from $150 for quartz and plated steel to $800 for a clone movement with lab sapphires and a steel case. Solid gold replicas are rare and cost more. Batch sizes are not published, so replica production figures are unknown. Genuine Everose Rainbow examples carry auction estimates in the six figures. A replica is not a genuine watch and holds no Rolex warranty or service record.