Buying a Diamond Rolex: Factory Settings and Custom Watches

Diamond Rolex watches range from subtle diamond hour markers to cases and bracelets covered in stones. The first question is how the watch acquired those diamonds. A Rolex factory configuration and a watch customized by an independent setter are different products and should be described that way.

The Watches in Our 2020 Feature

The original selection included a Daytona described as reference 116515 with a rainbow style bezel, diamond Datejust examples, a Day Date and a gem set GMT. The photographs remain as an archive of that selection. Old prices and claims that every pictured piece is still for sale have been removed.

The rainbow style 116515 should not be presented as a factory Rainbow Daytona reference. The original article explicitly identified the diamond work on its black dial 16030 and blue dial 126334 Datejust examples as aftermarket. Their photographs show contrasting dial colors, diamond bezels and decorated bracelets.

Other specifications in the original copy were inconsistent. It switched between 118206 and 118205 while describing a platinum Day Date, and named the dark stones in a GMT bezel without supporting documentation. Those details should be confirmed from the actual watch record before a sale, not inferred from this gallery.

What to Ask Before Buying

• What is the base watch reference, and does the documentation match it?
• Which parts and stones are factory fitted, and which were added later?
• Are the diamonds natural or laboratory grown, and what evidence supports their grades?
• What condition and service checks have been completed?
• What written warranty applies to the watch and the setting?

Customization can change future service options, resale interest and water resistance. Rolex’s guarantee excludes watches materially modified with non genuine components. A seller’s own coverage is a separate matter.

Choosing the Look

A diamond bezel can frame a readable dial without covering the entire watch. A fully set bracelet creates a different effect and needs careful inspection at its moving links and clasp. Try the watch on, look closely at the setting and choose the version you enjoy rather than assuming that more diamonds mean a higher resale value.

Contact Diamonds By Raymond Lee in Boca Raton to ask about current pieces, appointments and service options.

Original Photo Gallery