Remember the skeleton-dialled Rolex Daytona we recently shared, modified by the independent Swiss watch customisation boutique Artisans de Genève in tribute to the illustrious career of the Columbian racing driver Juan Pablo Montoya? Well, its maker has now revealed a gold version limited to just 42 pieces. 

Having won the Rolex 24 three times and the Indianapolis 500 twice, Montoya is particularly familiar with the Rolex Daytona. And ‘La Montoya’ by Artisans de Genève was a worthy tribute to the modern-era racing legend, featuring a skeleton dial (the first ever seen on a Daytona), which allowed an unobstructed view of the extensively modified movement below, a tachymeter bezel machined from forged carbon, and hand-painted custom sub-dial markings and hands in the colours of the Columbian flag.   

We’re pleased to report that ‘La Montoya Gold’ follows the same recipe as the stainless version, simply with the solid gold case, bracelet, hands, indexes, and signature rotor, all of which adhere to the current ‘more is more’ trend. We think there’s something about the classic gold case that accentuates the stunning intricacies of the thoroughly modern openwork movement, which was developed over two years by Artisans de Genève’s talented watchmakers. 

This most daring of timepieces shouldn’t work on paper but certainly does in reality. With its stunning execution and finish, combined with the carbon bezel and coloured sub-registers, La Montoya Gold feels very modern. But its classic gold case, pushers, crown and bracelet ensures it retains the fundamental soul of the timeless timepiece. If you’re going to buy a customised Rolex Daytona, why settle for anything less than the boldest and the best? Then you, too, could be the man with the golden wrist. 

Photos: Artisans de Genève