Entrepreneur Jean-Frédéric Dufour spotted wearing a Rolex

Jean-Frédéric Dufour, CEO of Rolex, appeared at the Four Seasons charity event in London on September 28 wearing the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Le Mans ref. 126525LN in 18k pink gold. The event, conducted in partnership with Phillips, featured four one-of-a-kind Daytona pieces inspired by the seasons, which collectively raised $49.5 million for the Federer Foundation and Leonardo DiCaprio's Re:wild. On Dufour's right wrist, the pink gold Daytona Le Mans exemplified Rolex's commitment to endurance racing heritage.

The ref. 126525LN is powered by Rolex's calibre 4132, a modern self-winding chronograph movement that sets this Le Mans edition apart from conventional Daytona specifications. The movement features a 24-hour counter positioned at 9 o'clock rather than the traditional 12-hour subdial arrangement, a functional nod to endurance racing timekeeping. The 40mm case is crafted in 18k pink gold with a screw-down caseback and offers 100 metres of water resistance. The black dial showcases applied hour markers, an outer tachymeter scale, and chronograph registers with distinctive square-end hashmarks—a throwback detail referencing vintage endurance racing instruments. The red "100" marking on the tachymeter commemorates the centennial running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Rolex initially introduced the Le Mans Daytona in 18k white gold (ref. 126529LN) as a quiet release celebrating the race's 100th anniversary. The line has since expanded with a yellow gold variant (ref. 126528LN) for 2024 and this pink gold iteration for 2025, each reinforcing Rolex's enduring partnership with endurance motorsport. The 24-hour counter represents a significant technical variation; most modern Daytonas employ the conventional three-register chronograph layout introduced in the 1960s. This functional redesign makes the Le Mans editions genuinely distinctive within the broader Daytona portfolio.

Dufour's choice of the pink gold Le Mans reflects both the symbolic weight of wearing a limited production Daytona variant and the specific heritage narrative Rolex has constructed around this reference. As CEO, his wrist presence at a major auction event carries institutional significance—Rolex rarely produces editions this specific without clear brand story alignment. The pairing underscores the Daytona Le Mans as a tool watch rooted in motorsport rather than merely a prestige accessory.

The Rolex Daytona Le Mans ref. 126525LN carries a retail price of approximately $55,000 USD, though secondary market values for this 2025 pink gold edition remain volatile given its recent release. White and yellow gold variants have seen modest appreciation on the grey market, typically trading within 8–12% of retail depending on condition. Waitlist availability remains restricted to Rolex boutique networks; allocation is typically reserved for established clients with significant purchase history.