Entrepreneur Antoine Arnault spotted wearing a Rolex

Antoine Arnault, the LVMH-backed entrepreneur and newly named president of Paris FC, appeared at his official appointment announcement wearing the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126529LN in 18k white gold—a timepiece intrinsically tied to motorsport heritage and Rolex's century-long association with endurance racing. The 2023 release marked a singular milestone: the only Daytona Le Mans variant to coincide with the actual centennial of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The ref. 126529LN represents the pinnacle of Rolex's Cosmograph Daytona line, powered by the in-house Calibre 4130 chronograph movement, a self-winding mechanical chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch offering 72 hours of power reserve. The case measures 40 mm in diameter and comprises 18k white gold, with a sapphire crystal, screw-down chronograph pushers, and 100 meters of water resistance—standard for the modern Daytona platform. The dial is a glossy black lacquer, featuring applied white subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, each with thin square-end hashmarks—a deliberate homage to vintage Daytona chronographs of the 1960s. The fixed bezel features a 400-unit tachymeter scale printed in white, with the commemorative red '100' numerals marking the centennial milestone. The bracelet is a solid-link Oyster three-piece design in 18k white gold with a Glidelock clasp.

Production of the ref. 126529LN was strictly limited to the 2023 calendar year, making it the definitive centennial reference. Rolex extended the Le Mans commemorative concept in 2024 with an 18k yellow gold variant and again in 2025 with an 18k pink gold version, yet neither carries the historical authenticity of the original white-gold edition launched during the actual 100th Le Mans running. Collectors regard the 126529LN as the canonical piece within this three-year trilogy.

Arnault's choice underscores the Daytona's undiminished cultural position among ultra-high-net-worth individuals with motorsport interests. The ref. 126529LN, having sold out within weeks of release, commands robust secondary-market demand from both watch and racing enthusiasts. Retail pricing at launch stood at approximately $42,500; current grey-market valuations trend between $55,000 and $68,000 depending on condition and provenance. Waitlist allocation at authorized Rolex retailers remains competitive, and the reference rarely appears on the pre-owned market without significant markup. Arnault's public wear of the white-gold 2023 version reinforces its status as the most coveted variant within the Le Mans trilogy.