The 126508 is the full yellow gold Daytona with the green dial. This is the reference that became famous when the green-dial gold Daytona showed up at auction and the whole market noticed. Gold case, gold bezel, green sunburst dial with gold subdials. It is as loud as a Daytona gets.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Factory | VS Factory (VSF) |
| Reference | 126508 (Daytona, yellow gold, green dial, Oyster) |
| Movement | Dandong 4131 automatic chronograph, 1:1 architecture |
| Case dimensions | 40mm diameter |
| Material | 904L steel with 18K yellow gold plating |
| Bezel | Fixed yellow gold plated tachymeter |
| Crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective coating |
| Dial | Green sunburst with Chromalight indexes and gold subdials |
| Bracelet | Yellow gold plated Oyster, Oysterlock clasp |
The dial. Green sunburst with three gold subdials. The green is the same kind of rich sunburst Rolex uses on its green dials, shifting with the light. The subdials are gold, which keeps the whole dial tied to the gold case instead of introducing black for contrast the way the steel Daytonas do. The markers and hands are filled with Chromalight for a blue glow. It is a dial that gets attention, and the green-on-gold combination is what made this reference famous.
The gold. Yellow gold plating on the case, bezel, and Oyster bracelet. The plating is a fade-resistant yellow gold that matches the heavy luster of genuine. A full gold Daytona is the loudest thing Rolex makes in the chronograph line, and the plating carries the weight of that look. It is not subtle, and it is not trying to be.
The bezel. Solid gold plated with the engraved tachymeter scale. The numerals are etched and filled, aligned with the dial. On the gold version the bezel is metal rather than ceramic, which is how the genuine 126508 is configured.
The movement. Dandong 4131. Column wheel and vertical clutch, so the chronograph engages crisply without stutter. The pushers work properly and the winding feels smooth. Same architecture as the genuine, keeping the case thin.
The steel. 904L under the gold plating, with rounded lug polishing. Same dimensions as genuine.
The bracelet. Gold plated Oyster, three-piece links, Oysterlock clasp.
The takeaway. The 126508 is the Daytona you buy when you want to be seen wearing it. Green dial on full yellow gold is the combination that made this reference a phenomenon, and VSF replicates the dial and the gold tone well. The 4131 gives it a real chronograph under the gold. If you want the steel Panda to fly under the radar, get the Panda. If you want the Daytona that announces itself from across a room, this is it.