Rolex Four Seasons: Four Unique Daytonas for Charity Auction

Rare Rolex Daytona references have long been among the most sought-after watches on the modern collector market. With “The Four Seasons,” however, Rolex is going well beyond the idea of a conventional special edition. Created for a charity auction, the series comprises four one-of-a-kind, gem-set Daytonas, each inspired by a different season. The project was developed through Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative in collaboration with brand ambassadors Roger Federer and Leonardo DiCaprio. Phillips will auction the four watches individually in London on September 28, 2026, with all proceeds benefiting the Roger Federer Foundation and the conservation organization Re:wild. 

Four Seasons, Four Unique Pieces

All four watches retain the familiar architecture of the Cosmograph Daytona, but Rolex pushes the materials and color palette far beyond what is found in the regular collection. Depending on the season, the case is crafted from white gold, Everose gold, yellow gold, or platinum. The dials are even more distinctive. Rolex pairs natural stones such as chrysoprase, turquoise, mookaite, and blue opal with contrasting stone chronograph subdials. Colored sapphires, tourmalines, or diamonds take the place of traditional hour markers, while fully gem-set bezels, diamond-set lugs, and diamond-set crown guards complete the jeweled designs.

Spring: Chrysoprase Meets Purple Sapphires

Spring comes in 18-karat white gold, with a chrysoprase dial paired with lepidolite chronograph subdials. Eleven purple sapphires mark the hours, eight baguette-cut and three square-cut, while the bezel is set with 36 trapeze-cut violet sapphires (approximately 5.57 carats). Another 54 brilliant-cut diamonds (around 0.86 carats), are set into the lugs and crown guards. The green-and-violet palette makes Spring one of the boldest interpretations in the quartet. Rather than relying on a single seasonal color, Rolex builds the design around the contrast between natural stone and vividly colored gemstones.

Summer: Turquoise and Everose Gold

The Summer Daytona takes on a noticeably warmer character. Its case is crafted from Everose gold, while the dial is finished in turquoise. The three chronograph subdials are made from a material Rolex calls “Heart of Ruby.” Pink sapphires serve as hour markers and continue onto the bezel, where 36 trapeze-cut sapphires (approximately 4.32 carats). The lugs and crown guards are also set with 54 diamonds. With its mix of turquoise, pink, and the warm tone of Everose gold, Summer is arguably the most colorful of the four watches.

Autumn: Mookaite and green tourmaline

For Autumn, Rolex switches to yellow gold. At the center is a mookaite dial, whose natural coloration makes every piece of stone unique. Chrysoprase is used for the chronograph subdials. Rolex replaces sapphires with green tourmalines: eight baguette-cut and three square-cut stones serve as hour markers. The bezel is set with a further 36 trapeze-cut green tourmalines (approximately 4.32 carats). 54 brilliant-cut diamonds adorn the lugs and crown guards. The warm yellow gold and earthy tones of the mookaite give this Daytona a distinctly more organic character.

Winter: Platinum, Blue Opal, and Lapis Lazuli

Rolex saves perhaps the most spectacular combination of materials for Winter. The case is crafted from platinum, while the dial is made from blue opal and the three chronograph subdials from deep blue lapis lazuli. For the hour markers Rolex uses 11 diamonds, eight baguette-cut and three square-cut. The bezel is set with 36 trapeze-cut sapphires arranged in a gradient running from blue to fuchsia (approximately 5.57 carats). Another 54 brilliant-cut diamonds (around 0.86 carats), complete the gem-setting on the case and crown guards. The cool sheen of platinum, blue opal dial, and lapis lazuli subdials give Winter the most cohesive color palette of the four watches.

Beneath the gemstones: Caliber 4131

 The Four Seasons models are powered by the automatic Caliber 4131, which Rolex introduced with the latest generation of the Daytona in 2023. It provides a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. All four unique pieces are also certified by Rolex as Superlative Chronometers. 

Federer and DiCaprio Behind the Project

The project is more than presenting four exceptionally exclusive Rolex watches. The auction was conceived as a charity initiative. Founded by Roger Federer in 2003, the Roger Federer Foundation supports children in southern Africa and Switzerland, with the goal of improving access to education and opportunities for personal development. Re:wild was founded by a group of conservation scientists together with Leonardo DiCaprio. The organization works with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and conservation groups, among others, to protect and restore natural habitats. All proceeds will go to the two organizations.

An Auction with Collector Potential

Rolex has not announced official estimates for the four watches, making the results on September 28 all the more intriguing. There is plenty to attract serious collectors: four one-of-a-kind Rolex watches, the enduring appeal of the Daytona, rare natural-stone dials, elaborate gem-setting, and a high-profile charity component. The format adds another layer of interest. Although the Four Seasons were conceived as a complete quartet, Phillips will offer each watch as a separate lot. That raises an obvious question: Will the four Daytonas go to different collectors, or will a single bidder try to keep the set intact? Either way, the Four Seasons are likely to be among the most closely watched Rolex lots of the year.

This article was first published by WatchTime Germany.