The “Pikachu” is the Rolex Daytona reference 126518LN with the bright golden sunray dial and black counters: an 18ct yellow-gold chronograph on a black Cerachrom bezel and Oysterflex bracelet, introduced at Watches & Wonders in 2023 and still in production. Rolex’s official name for the dial colour is simply “golden” — the Pokémon reference belongs entirely to collectors.
Why is it called the Pikachu?
The answer is the colourway. A saturated yellow dial framed by black — black subdial rings, black ceramic bezel, black elastomer strap — reminded enough people of a certain electric-yellow Pokémon that the nickname spread across forums and Instagram within days of the 2023 launch. It helped that the dial is genuinely unusual for Rolex: rather than the muted champagne tones traditionally used on gold Daytonas, the golden dial is bright, reflective and almost monochrome with the case. As with most Rolex nicknames it is unofficial and will never appear in brand literature, but it has already become the fastest way to identify this exact dial variant in conversation.
References
The nickname applies only to the golden-dial 126518LN; the reference is also sold with other dial options. Its predecessor, the 116518LN, established the yellow-gold-on-Oysterflex formula in 2017 but never wore this dial.
| Reference | Years | Key spec | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 116518LN | 2017–2023 | 40mm yellow gold, calibre 4130, Oysterflex | Discontinued |
| 126518LN (golden dial) | 2023–present | 40mm yellow gold, calibre 4131, Oysterflex | In production |
The current calibre 4131 is rated to ±2 seconds a day under Rolex’s Superlative Chronometer standard and carries a 72-hour power reserve — enough to run through a long weekend off the wrist.
Super clone availability
GrandWatchClub stocks 2 Pikachu super clones of the golden-dial 126518LN, priced between £434 and £1,125. The entry price buys the Japanese-movement build; the Swiss SuperClone at the top of the range uses a Swiss chronograph movement with closer colour-matching on the sunray dial and ceramic bezel — the vivid golden tone being the detail that separates a convincing example from an obvious one. Both wear at the genuine 40mm dimensions on an Oysterflex-style strap.
- Super Clone Rolex Daytona Golden Dial 126518LN “Pikachu” — £434
- Super Clone Rolex Daytona Golden Dial 126518LN “Pikachu” – Swiss SuperClone — Swiss movement — £1,125