Former F1 driver Barrichello’s Rolex Daytona custom modification table
I believe that fans who follow F1 in the 1990s and early 2000s will remember Brazil’s Rubens Barrichello, a highly efficient driver. Although Rubens Barrichello did not win any championships, he finished 11 times in the first place and 68 times on the podium.
Like many F1 drivers, Mr. Barrichello also likes watches. He used to be the Audemars Piguet brand ambassador. The Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello II was released in 2006 and was one of the most popular models at the time.
Not surprisingly, Mr. Barrichello is clearly a fan of the watchman replica Rolex Daytona, so he chose to work with the famous Swiss watch brand Artisans de Genève to customize a Rolex cosmograph Daytona watch, the result is “La Barrichello” “. This replica watches has been greatly modified and equipped with a skeleton movement, which is particularly eye-catching.
It is worth mentioning that last year Artisans de Genève provided similar customized services for Juan-Pablo Montoya. Montoya and Barrichello are contemporary drivers active in the field of F1 sports, and the custom-made hollow watches of both drivers are novel.
Creative differences about Rolex Daytona replica watches 116500LN
The prototype of “La Barrichello” is the Ref.116520 Daytona watch that was introduced in 2000. The wrist performance has been replaced by the Ref.116500LN (characterized with ceramic ring) introduced in 2016. Mr. Barrichello hopes that his Daytona looks more “mechanical”, which is also a common style of F1-inspired watches. “La Barrichello” has been hollowed out and the hollow side of the dial can be seen through the dial side, showing the mystery of the clockwork and the chronograph wheel.
Artisans de Genève replaced the steel bezel of Ref.116520 with a self-produced black ceramic bezel, reminiscent of the same Ref.116500LN with a ceramic bezel, but the “La Barrichello” speed scale was upgraded from the original “400” To “500”. The case is entirely matte-brushed, compared to the original Daytona case with brushed & polished alternating finishes. In addition, the crown and buttons of “La Barrichello” are also coated with black ADLC coating.
Minimalist Rolex Daytona replica watches 116500LN dial
The dial is completely hollow, leaving only the small seconds, minute track and lap. It is worth noting that the Artisans de Genève zoomed in on the 12-hour chronograph to give the dial an asymmetrical layout, reminiscent of an antique chronograph. As the dial has disappeared, the Rolex brand logo and the constant-motion cosmometer typeface have to be printed under the sapphire crystal.
Rolex Daytona replica watches 116500LN Movement Cal.4130 changes
More remarkable than the modification of the case and dial, the rebuild of the Rolex Cal.4130 chronograph movement. According to Artisans de Genève, the craftsman dismantled the Cal.4130 movement and hand-cuttered and chamfered some parts separately.
In addition, the oscillating weight is produced by Artisans de Genève, first cast in 21K gold, then hollowed into a rim shape, hand chamfered, and coated with black ADLC coating.
Last but not least, it takes up to 260 hours to retrofit each watch. Despite major modifications, “La Barrichello” retains the original 100-meter waterproof and 72-hour power storage performance of the original Rolex Daytona replica watches 116500LN.
