Artisans de Genève Presents the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Infinity
A gemmological reinterpretation of an icon
Artisans de Genève has unveiled a new personalised version of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, created for a client whose family heritage lies in the world of gemmology. The project, known as Infinity, required two years of development and blends high level watchmaking with meticulous gemstone craft. The result is a reinterpretation of the Daytona that treats the watch not only as a mechanical instrument but also as a canvas for colour, clarity and light.
Source: www.artisansdegeneve.com
A Rose Gold Base and a Gem Set Architecture
The foundation for the Infinity project is the Daytona reference 116505, presented in Rolex’s proprietary rose gold alloy. Artisans de Genève transformed the appearance of the model through extensive gem setting carried out entirely by hand. The case middle is adorned with fifty two diamonds of D and E colour grades, selected for their purity and uniform brilliance. Their arrangement forms a luminous frame that emphasises the geometry of the watch.
The bezel introduces a far more expressive element. It is set with thirty six coloured sapphires arranged to produce a seamless chromatic transition. The stones were sourced, graded and matched over a period of two years to ensure that the tonal progression remains fluid from one gemstone to the next. The effect is reminiscent of a continuous rainbow, yet executed with a level of subtlety that avoids abrupt colour segmentation.
A Sapphire Dial with Graduated Accents
The dial is crafted from clear sapphire, which introduces a sense of depth and technical openness. To maintain legibility, selected areas of the surface are treated with a controlled gradient that darkens the transparent material. This measured shading allows the hands and registers to stand out without compromising the crystalline quality of the dial.
Hour markers and chronograph subdial rings are fashioned from rose gold and finished with a mirror polish. Each hour marker carries a sapphire chosen to echo the hue of the gems located on the corresponding arc of the bezel. This precise alignment between dial and bezel establishes a coherent chromatic structure across the entire watch.
Finishing Touches in Rose Gold
The hands feature a sandblasted centre section that adds texture while complementing the polished contours of the subdials. The chronograph pushers and the rotor visible through the caseback are also crafted from rose gold, reinforcing the consistency of the material palette.
Pricing
The cost of the customisation for the Infinity project is 116,500 Swiss francs. As with all Artisans de Genève creations, the work represents a personal transformation of an existing client owned watch rather than an official collaboration with Rolex, and stands as an example of how contemporary custom ateliers are redefining the boundaries of artisanal watchmaking.
