3 Rainbow watches from 3 otherwise serious watchmakers

The centuries of watchmaking history taught us a couple of cardinal rules about what can be considered beautiful, timeless, or elegant.

 

Among our main teachers, we can count brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, or Audemars Piguet. If you ask anyone, these brands equal class.

 

The bigger the surprise is when you find out that also some of the most absurd timepieces come from the manufacturers of those three.

 

So today, let’s have a look at 3 Rainbow watches from 3 otherwise serious watchmakers.

 

Photo source: Rolex

 

Rolex Daytona ref.116595RBOW-0002

 

Rolex Daytona is one of the most respected timepieces ever made, period. People are willing to pay tens of thousands of euros and wait for years just to become owners of this iconic model, famous for its understated class.

 

Back in 2018, Rolex decided to prepare a little surprise for the watch community in the form of a Daytona, which was set with 36 baguette-cut sapphires in a gradation of colours that look like a rainbow. The case and the bracelet were made of 18 ct Everose gold, a patented alloy that preserves the beauty of pink gold.

 

People couldn’t believe their eyes. This was the most non-Rolex watch anyone could ever name. In the beginning, the Rainbow Daytona lost a lot of its value, with the watch world being quite disinterested in it.

 

Since then, the tables have turned. With time, celebrities, successful sportsmen, and rappers rediscovered this watch, shooting the value and the demand for this watch to the skies. Now, this model can cost you about 400,000 Euros.

 

Photo source: Audemars Piguet

 

The “frosted” AP Royal Oak 15412BC.YG.1224BC.03

 

Royal Oak is the first big watch made by the legendary watch designer Gerald Genta. It’s also one of the main reasons we have the luxury watch industry of today.

 

Unlike Rolex, AP was never too conservative with their flagship model - they gave us the Offshore line after all. So, it was no big surprise that after the success of the Rainbow Daytona, AP decided to venture into those waters as well. In 2021, Audemars Piguet presented the 100-piece boutique-only limited edition of skeletonized Royal Oak with a bezel set with 32 baguette-cut sapphires in a rainbow gradient, and a “frosted” finish of the golden case and bracelet.

 

Asking what a “frosted” finish is. AP achieved it by hammering the 18-carat white or pink gold case and bracelet with a diamond-tipped tool, creating tiny indentations that reflect light like snowflakes.

 

The “frosted” Royal Oak was even more expensive than the Daytona, going for 650,000 or more, and worn by only the richest rappers and stars.

 

Photo source: Patek Philippe

 

Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5260/1455R Minute Repeater

 

Patek Philippe is one of the most conservative watchmakers you can find, with their most extravagant feature being a rubber strap on the Aquanaut. That is until 2023 when they announced the first Grand Complication in its "contemporary casual" line for ladies, Aquanaut Luce.

 

Rainbow Daytona has a massive diamond bezel, Rainbow Royal Oak a special “frosting’. Well, Patek decided to step up the game (like they always do), so they presented their own variant of a rainbow watch, this time, making sure it was the ‘rainbowest’ of them all.

 

The Aquanaut Luce uses a total of 779 baguette-cut sapphires and 131 diamonds! The whole watch, from the dial to the folding clasp, is covered in shining stones. Patek used a special “invisible setting” technique, which ensures the watch looks almost as if it was made from precious stones, not just set by them.

 

If Patek's decision to make this watch amazes you, prepare to be amazed again, since this timepiece goes for about 1,200,000 dollars. And that’s conservative. It’s not yet available, but some experts guess it can climb as high as 3,000,000 dollars. That is a lot of money even for Patek.

 

And there you have it - the holy trio of Rainbow watches. Do you count yourself among those, who would buy such a timepiece, or it’s a little too many diamonds and sapphires for you?

 

If this is your jam, you can check our own catalog of diamond and rainbow watches on our website or our Chrono24 page.