Rolex Four Seasons: Four unique Daytona watches arrive at a charity auction

Rolex has presented four completely unique examples of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona model, which will be offered at a special charity auction in London on September 28, 2026. The collection called The Four Seasons interprets the four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter – through four different combinations of precious metals, natural stones and precious stones.

What makes these Daytonas especially rare is the fact that none of the four examples will be part of the regular Rolex catalog. Each watch will be offered separately at an auction organized by Phillips, with all proceeds going to the Federer Foundation and the Re:wild organization.

The spring version is based on an 18K white gold case and bracelet, with a chrysoprase dial and contrasting chronograph sub-dials made of lepidolite. The purple tones continue on the bezel, which features 36 trapezoidal cut purple sapphires weighing a total of approximately 5.57 carats. Eleven purple sapphires are also set as hour markers, while the lugs and crown guard are adorned with 54 brilliant-cut diamonds.

The summer Daytona brings a much warmer combination. The case and bracelet are made of Rolex’s own 18-carat Everose gold, while the dial is made of turquoise and the chronograph subdials are made of heart-cut rubies. The bezel is set with 36 trapezoid-cut pink sapphires, weighing a total of approximately 4.32 carats. The same gemstone is used for the hour markers, while diamonds on the lugs further round out the look of this model.

The autumn interpretation returns to the classic 18-carat yellow gold. The dial is made of mookaite and the subdials are made of chrysoprase, creating a palette of yellow and green tones. The bezel is set with 36 trapezoid-cut green tourmalines weighing approximately 4.32 carats, while the green tourmalines are also used for the hour markers.

The most dramatic of the four pieces is the winter version. The case and bracelet are made of 950 platinum, and the blue opal dial is combined with dark blue lapis lazuli subdials. The bezel is adorned with 36 trapezoid-cut sapphires arranged in a gradient from blue to fuchsia, weighing approximately 5.57 carats in total. Unlike the other three models, the hour markers here are made of diamonds.

All four watches share another luxurious detail: 54 brilliant-cut diamonds, weighing a total of approximately 0.86 carats per watch, are set on the lugs and crown guard.

Beneath all these unusual materials and decorative elements, however, lies the mechanics of a modern Daytona model. Each example is powered by Rolex’s caliber 4131, an automatic chronograph movement introduced with the current generation of the Daytona. It offers approximately 72 hours of power reserve and carries Rolex’s Superlative Chronometer certification.

The natural stones further emphasize the fact that each of these watches is truly individual. The differences in color, texture and pattern that arise as part of the natural characteristics of the materials make each piece even more special, in addition to the fact that each one is produced as a unique watch.

The project is part of Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative and brings together two of the brand’s Testimonees, Roger Federer and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Federer Foundation, which Federer founded in 2003, focuses on creating educational opportunities for children, particularly in southern Africa and Switzerland. Re:wild, an organization launched by conservation scientists and Leonardo DiCaprio, works to protect and restore biodiversity and wild ecosystems through collaboration with indigenous peoples, local communities and conservation organizations.

All proceeds from the sale of the four Daytona models will be donated to the two organizations. Rolex CEO Jean Frédéric Dufour describes the project as a continuation of the company’s vision of excellence, in which, in addition to the quality of the product itself, the impact it can have beyond the product is important.

The Rolex Four Seasons auction will be held by Phillips in London on Monday, September 28. Each watch will be a separate lot, rather than part of a joint offering. This opens up the possibility that the four pieces, which were intended as a single unit, could end up in the hands of different collectors.

Rolex has not yet released valuations for any of the four watches. Their price could be one of the most interesting elements of the auction. Unique contemporary Rolex watches produced directly by the manufacturer are extremely rare, while the Daytona already has a special place in the collector's market.

The combination of natural stone dials, extensive gemstone setting, completely unique configurations and a charity auction backed by Rolex itself means that there is virtually no conventional market reference for these pieces. How much they will be worth will be decided by collectors themselves at the auction in London on September 28.

Photos: The MenWith Briefing