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From our Daytona "Rainbow" to an Arabic Datejust, we present to you our 7 most-requested Rolex watches to customise in 2025!
When a client enquires about a custom piece, they intend for something personal and bespoke or they take inspiration from an off-catalogue Rolex watch like the Rolex Daytona “Rainbow to produce their own custom version for a fraction of the price.
Yes, the topic of customisation is controversial but it should no longer be treated as a taboo, especially since the diamonds our artisans use are natural, graded no lower than VS1 and colours G-H. Our gemstones are all hand-picked by our team of in-house gemologists that are high in quality to display their rich colour.
Additionally, we utilise an authentic Rolex model when producing custom watches, so if you simply want a bezel or dial change then you can always resort back to the original version because we allow you to keep the parts.
This year, we have created many bespoke pieces with some part of our custom collection of watches but there are a select few notably flooding our requests. So, let’s unveil the seven most-requested custom Rolex watches and the beautiful specification applied by our team of expert gem-setters.
Custom Rolex Daytona “Rainbow”
Starting with our most-requested custom watch, the Rolex Daytona “Rainbow” which takes inspiration from the off-catalogue model. Since the Daytona “Rainbow’s” introduction in 2012, there have been different variations, produced in three different types of gold with different dials but there is a clear winner and most desirable.
That is the reference 116595RBOW, cast in Rolex’s patented 18CT Everose gold which features the captivating rainbow sapphire bezel with diamonds set into the shoulders and crown guards of the rose gold case. There are even sapphire gemstones set into the dial as hour markers that mirror the rainbow pattern in the bezel.
For our custom piece, we take an authentic 18ct Everose gold Rolex Daytona like a reference 116505 to carry out the procedure. We follow the same format using baguette-cut, VS1, colours G-H, natural white diamonds set into the 18ct Everose gold case with the finest quality of hand-picked natural sapphire gemstones set into the bezel and dial that mirror the rainbow pattern to produce our very own Daytona "Rainbow".
Buy Rolex Daytona 18ct Everose Gold Custom Rainbow 116505
- ▪Custom Black Dial with Gemstones
- ▪18ct Everose gold Oyster bracelet/solid case back
- ▪Automatic Movement
Custom Rolex Daytona “Eye of the Tiger”
Another popular off-catalogue piece is the Rolex Daytona reference 116588TBR known as the “Eye of the Tiger” which was first seen in 2019. Like the Daytona “Rainbow,” there are different variations of this model but the custom piece to feature in this article is heavily inspired by the 116588TBR reference.
This features 36 trapeze-cut diamonds set into the bezel but the most compelling part about this watch is the striking dial. It is Rolex’s champagne dial with black lacquer swirls and 243 diamonds set into it to replicate the aesthetics of a tiger’s fur.
What would be incredibly difficult to produce is possible here at Time4Diamonds, home to masterful gem-setters and artisans. Using an authentic Rolex watch reference 116518LN, we have incorporated VS1, colours G-H, trapeze-cut natural white diamonds into the bezel and meticulously set into the dial mirroring the same pattern of a tiger’s fur.
This is an extremely bold piece that showcases an artistic and unique vision, requiring intricate levels of diamond setting which is achieved through our masterful customisation team to create the Daytona "Eye of the Tiger."
Buy Rolex Daytona Eye of The Tiger Custom Set 116518LN Watch
- ▪custom "Eye of the Tiger" dial
- ▪custom yellow gold bezel set with 36 baguette cut diamonds
- ▪sporty OEM Oysterflex strap with yellow gold fold over clasp, sapphire crystal, automatic self-winding movement calibre 4130./li>
Custom Rolex Yacht-Master “Cotton Candy”
In 2022, Rolex released an off-catalogue piece for a different sports model, the Yacht-Master 42 reference 126679SABR. The SABR suffix alludes to the use of sapphires and diamonds which, in this case, are set into the 18ct white gold bezel.
Its peculiar nickname “Cotton Candy” derives from the colour of gemstones applied into the piece consisting of blue, purple and pink. Additionally, there are diamonds set into the lugs of the white gold case with very few pieces being seen with a pavé diamond dial.
Our custom version utilises a certified Yacht-Master 42 reference 226659, setting baguette-cut, VS1, colours G-H, natural white diamonds into the shoulders of the 18CT white gold case and hand-picked blue, purple and pink gemstones inserted into the bezel. Another key benefit surrounding our custom pieces is that we have access to various natural stones and materials, so if you want a colourful bezel then it is possible as demonstrated with our custom Yacht-Master 42 "Cotton Candy."
One of the many positives about customisation is that this setting can be applied to any Yacht-Master model. Whereas Rolex only released this in a 42mm case size but the Yacht-Master comes in two alternative sizes of 37mm and 40mm.
So, if you want to enquire about making this custom piece possible, you have the choice of applying this setting to an authentic Yacht-Master 37, 40 or 42 whilst also deciding between a plain black factory Yacht-Master dial or a dazzling pavé diamond dial that sparkles beautifully.
Buy Custom Diamond Set Rolex Yacht-Master 42 White Gold 226659
- ▪Custom Diamond Set Rolex Yacht-Master 42 White Gold 226659
- ▪custom white gold bezel set with diamonds and gemstones in blue/magenta hues
- ▪Automatic movement calibre 3235 with date function
Custom Rolex Daytona “Arabic”
Arabic dials are some of the most sought after parts in the horological world but are extremely rare and exclusive. This is one of the many positives about customisation as we are able to produce Arabic dials for any Rolex watch. One of the most popular pieces to feature an Arabic dial is the off-catalogue Rolex Daytona reference 116576TBR which is an incredibly sought after model.
Manufactured out of platinum, this off-catalogue piece features an Arabic ice blue dial and diamond bezel which is one of the more simplistic Rolex watches to appear in the Swiss brand’s hidden catalogue yet the model obtains market values of around £200,000.
For a fraction of the price, you can acquire our custom version which features a baguette-cut diamond bezel of VS1 clarity, G-H colour and are natural stones with our beautiful ice blue Arabic dial. There are two slight differences with our custom Arabic Daytona, the first being that these custom settings are applied to a stainless steel model reference 116520. Secondly, we have added diamonds into the lugs of the case to give the piece an extra sparkle.
Buy Rolex Daytona 116520 with Custom Arabic Dial and Custom Diamond Bezel
- ▪Custom Ice-Blue Arabic-Indic Dial
- ▪white gold bezel set with baguette-cut VS1 diamonds
- ▪Automatic Movement
Custom Rolex Daytona “Ruby”
One of the most recent off-catalogue Rolex watches to have been produced is the Daytona reference 126598TRU which is one of the rarest off-catalogue pieces released by Rolex. With very few sightings on the market, this model reaches premium values of over a million pounds!
This 18CT yellow gold reference features a striking red ruby bezel with ruby hour markers on a pavé diamond dial enhancing its aesthetics. Like many other off-catalogue pieces, there are diamonds set into the lugs and crown guards of the yellow gold case.
Instead of paying a premium price of over a million pounds, you can spend a fraction on our custom version which features VS1, colours G-H, baguette-cut, natural white diamonds with hand-picked red ruby stones set into the bezel and dial as hour markers. Our gemologists access a high quality of rubies in order to make the bezel pop as much as the factory-set version, displaying a strong red colour.
Buy Custom Rolex Daytona 116508 Yellow Gold Ruby Diamond Dial
- ▪Custom Diamond Paved Dial
- ▪Custom Yellow Gold Bezel Set With Ruby Gemstones
- ▪Automatic self winding movement calibre 4130 with chronograph function
Custom Rolex GMT-Master II “TBR”
Moving away from the Daytona and on an alternative popular Rolex sports model, the GMT-Master II, we created our very own custom piece that wasn’t inspired by an off-catalogue piece. Our creative design team consulted with a client to produce this customised GMT-Master II with a finish so beautiful, it pathed the way for more requests.
Taking an authentic Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116718LN, we have set VS1, colours G-H, natural white diamonds into the 18CT yellow gold bezel, also inserting the stones into the shoulders, crown guards and bracelet. We have even created a pavé diamond dial to enhance the beauty of the piece!
Buy Rolex GMT-Master II 18ct Yellow Gold 116718LN - Custom Diamond Set
- ▪Custom Diamond Paved Dial
- ▪18ct yellow gold
- ▪Automatic Movement
Custom Yacht-Master “Tutti-Frutti”
The final custom piece to feature in this article is our Yacht-Master that takes inspiration from the off-catalogue model reference 116695SATS nicknamed “Tutt-Frutti” or “Haribo.” The funny nickname stems from the bezel which features multi-coloured sapphire gemstone bezel that the watch community believe to look like gummy sweets.
There are 41 stones set into the 18CT Everose gold bezel, 40 of them being multi-coloured and in a repeated pattern with a diamond at the top of the bezel with a beautiful pavé diamond dial. This fetches up to a value of over £100,000 on the secondary market but here at Time4Diamonds, you can pick up a custom version at a much affordable price.
Taking inspiration from the off-catalogue piece, we take a certified Rolex Yacht-Master 37, 40 or 42 and incorporate natural hand-picked gemstones into the bezel with the addition of a diamond pavé dial, worn comfortably with the Oysterflex bracelet. In the picture above displays our custom settings applied to a Yacht-Master 37 reference 268655.
Buy Rolex Yacht-Master 37mm Custom "Tutti Frutti" 268655
- ▪Custom Diamond-Paved Dial
- ▪Custom Bezel set with Colourful Gemstones
- ▪Automatic Movement
Similar to the “Cotton Candy” off-catalogue model, the “Tutti-Frutti” was produced in the 40mm case size but due to the versatility customisation offers, we can manufacture these specification of gem settings for other case sizes.
Versatility of Customisation
Despite the majority of our most-requested custom pieces taking strong inspiration from off-catalogue Rolex models, customisation allows versatility giving you the chance to add your own bespoke and personal taste to a model.
As highlighted, if you admire a certain off-catalogue piece but wish that the specification was made accessible to a different Rolex model, we are able to achieve your wishes and an example of this would be our custom Yacht-Masters.
Various custom techniques are on display and made available to customers with access to rare stones and materials in order to produce unique bezels and dials. Alternatively, with our masterful team of gem setters and artisans, we can create fully iced-out pieces or simple engravings.
