A Dial Made From Space
The Rolex Daytona Ref. 116519LN with meteorite dial is one of the most extraordinary watches in Rolex’s catalog: the dial is cut from a genuine iron-nickel meteorite — a piece of space rock that formed 4.5 billion years ago and survived atmospheric entry to reach Earth. The natural Widmanstätten pattern (crystalline cross-hatching created by extremely slow cooling over millions of years in space) makes each dial unique — no two meteorite dials have the same pattern.
The Meteorite
Rolex sources their meteorite from the Muonionalusta meteorite, discovered in 1906 in northern Sweden. This iron-nickel meteorite (classified as type IVA) fell to Earth approximately 1 million years ago and was buried under glacial ice. The Widmanstätten pattern is created by the intergrowth of kamacite and taenite (two nickel-iron alloys) that form only during cooling rates of 1-100°C per million years — conditions that exist only in the vacuum of space. This pattern is physically impossible to replicate artificially.
The Watch
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case | 40mm, 18ct white gold |
| Movement | Cal. 4130 (automatic chronograph, 72h) |
| Dial | Meteorite (Muonionalusta) with diamond-set hour markers |
| Bezel | Cerachrom ceramic, black, tachymeter |
| Bracelet | Oysterflex rubber (black) |
| Crystal | Sapphire + Cyclops |
| WR | 100m |
| Retail | ~$32,000 |
| Secondary | $55,000-$75,000 |
Why You Can’t Buy One
The meteorite Daytona is the most allocated non-gem Rolex: production is extremely limited (estimated 200-500 units/year across all meteorite references), demand is astronomical (pun intended), and ADs reserve them for their top-spending clients. Most buyers never see one in the display case — they’re sold before they arrive. The secondary market ($55K-$75K, or 72-134% over retail) reflects this extreme scarcity.
Other Rolex Meteorite References
- Daytona 116509 (white gold, Oyster bracelet): Meteorite dial, white gold bracelet instead of Oysterflex. ~$38,000 retail.
- Day-Date 40 228239: Meteorite dial on the Day-Date — the ultimate meteorite Rolex. ~$48,000 retail.
- Datejust 41 126334: Meteorite dial on the Datejust — the most “accessible” meteorite Rolex. ~$12,500 retail (steel/fluted).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the meteorite dial fragile?
No — iron-nickel meteorite is extremely hard and durable. It’s sealed under sapphire crystal and won’t degrade under normal wear conditions. The only concern: moisture can cause surface oxidation if the crystal seal fails, but Rolex’s gasket system prevents this under normal conditions.
Will two meteorite dials look the same?
Never — the Widmanstätten pattern is random and unique to each slice of meteorite. Your dial is literally one-of-one, guaranteed by 4.5 billion years of cosmic physics.
Do you carry meteorite-style dials?
Browse our Daytona and Datejust collections at DR.WATCH for premium dial variants including meteorite-inspired textures. Free worldwide shipping + 1-year warranty.
