What is a Rolex “Baby Le Mans” Daytona?

The original Rolex Le Mans Daytona (ref. 126529LN) was one of the most hyped luxury watch releases of 2023. It sports an exhibition caseback, a red “100” on the tachymeter scale to honor 100 years of the Le Mans racetrack, a 24-hour counter (instead of 12), and subdials marked with the same typeface as a vintage Paul Newman Daytona. The 126519LN-0002, nicknamed the “Rolex Daytona Baby Le Mans,” was released the same year. While it doesn’t have any of those special features, it has a similar vibe: 18k white gold case, black ceramic bezel insert, and “reverse panda” dial. You might hear other similar references called a “Baby Le Mans Daytona” as well, and we’ll explain all of that.

Every modern Rolex Daytona is the same size (40mm) so the term “Baby Le Mans” isn’t about a smaller size, but rather a smaller price tag.

Rolex Baby Le Mans Daytona Price

The Rolex Baby Le Mans Daytona ref. 126519LN-0002 retails for $39,300 and sells secondhand for about $47,000 in mint condition. Meanwhile, on the open market, the actual Le Mans Daytona sells for over $200,000–roughly 4x its MSRP. You can’t just get on a Rolex waitlist and expect to get a Le Mans in this lifetime unless you’re an established VVIP at an authorized Rolex dealer. So the Baby Le Mans Daytona is a reasonable substitute for someone with “only” $40,000-$50,000 to spend.

Why is it Special?

There isn’t anything super unique about the Baby Le Mans; it’s simply a nice colorway. Collectors just tend to love “reverse Panda” dials (meaning black dials with lighter subdials), and those had never been offered on a white gold Daytona before 2023 (unless you think John Goldberger’s “Unicorn” was legit). Black Daytona dials with lighter subdial rings are common, but the fully colored subdials are rarer.

Plus, the Oysterflex bracelet is super comfortable and makes the 126519LN-0002 different enough from a full-fledged Le Mans that it doesn’t feel like a “cheaper version” of it. Notably, every Daytona on Oysterflex has a Glidelock clasp, while the bracelet versions (even the Le Mans) get the still-excellent Easy Link clasp.

Is 126519LN-0002 the Only Rolex Baby Le Mans Daytona?

To me, 126519LN-0002 is the one and only true Rolex Daytona Baby Le Mans. Occasionally you might see a watch dealer call a 126509-0001 a “Baby Le Mans,” but that model has a white gold bezel, and to me the ceramic bezel insert is a key part of the look.

The yellow gold Le Mans Daytona replaced the white gold version in 2024, however, and it was in turn replaced by a rose gold version in 2025. So ref. 126518LN-0004 could reasonably be considered a “yellow gold Baby Le Mans Daytona,” with ref. 126515LN-0002 being a “rose gold Baby Le Mans Daytona.”

Rolex Daytona Baby Le Mans 126519LN-0002 Specifications

Model Name	Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Baby Le Mans”
Reference Number	126519LN-0002
Case Material	18k white gold
Case Diameter	40mm
Case Thickness	11.9mm
Water Resistance	100 meters
Movement Caliber	Rolex Caliber 4131 (automatic, 8 beats per second, 44 jewels)
Movement Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph (central seconds, 30-min counter at 3, 12-hour counter at 9)
Dial	Black with silver subdials
Power Reserve	~72 hours
Caseback	Solid
Bracelet/Strap	Oysterflex bracelet with folding Oysterlock clasp and Glidelock extension
MSRP (2025)	$39,300
Market Value	$47,000

Final Thoughts

Rolex nicknames can get a bit cringey, and sometimes people get a little too zealous about trying to make a nickname catch on. But the Rolex Daytona “Baby Le Mans” moniker seemed to happen organically, and descriptively it makes sense–and that’s the main reason that it stuck.