What is the Rolex Daytona 126518LN "Pikachu"?

The "Pikachu" is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 126518LN with a golden dial and solid black counters, in 18 ct yellow gold with a black Cerachrom bezel on a black Oysterflex strap. Rolex lists the same reference with several other dials, including a golden dial with black counter rings, so the nickname describes one dial and not the whole reference. This guide covers the specifications, which 126518LN dials are and are not the Pikachu, what changed from the 116518LN, how it compares with the 126508 and the white gold Le Mans, how it wears, what Bizak's sourced catalogue listed on October 1, 2026, and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 126518LN to order; the Daytona collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on October 1, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Rolex Daytona 126518LN Pikachu specifications

Source: the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona collection page lists the current models and dial colours, and Rolex watch care and service covers servicing. Rolex does not print a nickname on the dial; "Pikachu" is collector shorthand.

Which 126518LN dials are, and are not, the Pikachu?

Only the golden dial with solid black counters is the Pikachu. The other 126518LN dials share the reference, the case and the strap, and none of them earns the name. The one that fools people is the golden dial with thin black rings round golden counters: the counters are golden and only their edges are black.

If a seller calls a black-dial 126518LN a Pikachu, the seller is guessing. If the counters are golden, it is not a Pikachu, whatever colour their rings are. The SKU suffix in Bizak's catalogue is the quickest check, and photographs of the counters settle it. Our watch nicknames guide explains how collector names attach to dials.

Pikachu 126518LN vs 116518LN: what changed?

Both are 40 mm yellow gold Daytonas on Oysterflex with a black Cerachrom bezel. The 126518LN is the one with the newer movement and the transparent back, and it is the one to choose if you want the current generation. A 116518LN is the route to a similar look at a lower cost, but it is a different reference with a different dial history.

126518LN vs 126508 vs the Le Mans: how do you tell them apart?

Look at the strap and the metal first. The 126518LN is yellow gold on rubber; the 126508 is yellow gold on a gold bracelet; the Le Mans is white gold. The steel reference is in our Daytona 126500LN guide, and the previous steel Panda is in the Daytona 116500LN guide.

How does a yellow gold Daytona on Oysterflex wear?

It wears heavy for its size and loud for its colour. Gold is dense, so a 40 mm gold case sits with more weight on the wrist than the steel version, and yellow gold does not whisper. The Oysterflex strap cannot be sized by adding or removing links as a metal bracelet can; Rolex describes length adjustment through the clasp system instead, so check the fit on your wrist before you settle.

The upside is that rubber takes the edge off the gold and keeps the watch from reading as jewellery. If you want quiet, this is the wrong Daytona; if you want gold with a sporting attitude, this is the one.

How much is a Rolex Daytona 126518LN Pikachu in 2026?

• Retail. Rolex publishes the current US list price on its product pages; we do not reproduce a figure here that can go stale. Availability at authorised dealers varies by market.
• Bizak catalogue asks. On October 1, 2026 our sourced catalogue listed a brand-new Pikachu (SKU 126518LNGBSR) at US$52,079 and a pre-owned Pikachu (SKU 126518LNGBSR1) at US$50,219, both sourced to order.
• Not Pikachu, for comparison. The golden dial with black counter rings (GSR) was listed brand new at US$39,989, and the black dial with golden counters (BCSR) at US$43,709, on the same date. The lowest-asked golden-dial listing is not a Pikachu.

Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for photographs of the counters and a dated quote on the exact watch. Our Rolex price guide explains how to compare quotes.

What should you check before you pay the balance on a Pikachu?

• Dial. Ask for photographs and confirm a golden dial with solid black counters, not golden counters with thin black rings.
• SKU. Confirm the exact suffix (GBSR or GBSR1) matches the quote, and that the watch is the condition you were quoted.
• Strap and clasp. Check the Oysterflex for cuts, stretching and wear at the clasp; ask for a photograph of the clasp engraving.
• Warranty card. The reference and serial on the card should match the watch, and the card date should be what the quote says.
• Case. Gold scratches more easily than steel; look at the lugs and pusher guards in close photographs for rounding from polishing.
• Timing and price. It is sourced to order, so confirm the timing and the final price in writing before you pay the balance.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

Quick answers

What is the Rolex Pikachu?

The Daytona 126518LN with Rolex's golden and bright black dial: a golden dial with solid black counters, in yellow gold on black Oysterflex.

Is every 126518LN a Pikachu?

No. Only the golden dial with solid black counters is. The golden dial with black counter rings is not, and neither are the black, white, turquoise, meteorite or diamond-set dials.

Is the 116518LN a Pikachu?

Some sellers use the name for it. This guide uses it for the 126518LN with the golden and solid black dial only.

What is the difference between the Pikachu and the John Mayer?

The John Mayer is a green-dial yellow gold Daytona on a gold bracelet, the 126508. The Pikachu is golden and black on Oysterflex.

How much is a Pikachu?

Bizak's sourced catalogue listed a brand-new Pikachu at US$52,079 and a pre-owned one at US$50,219 on October 1, 2026, sourced to order. Ask for a dated quote.

Request a Daytona 126518LN Pikachu sourcing quote

Tell us whether you want brand new or pre-owned, the dial you are after, whether the warranty card is required and your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs of the counters, card and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 126518LN Pikachu brand new, 126518LN Pikachu pre-owned; browse the Daytona collection, the yellow gold watches collection, or sell or trade your Daytona.

Related reading: Daytona 126500LN guide · Daytona 116500LN Panda guide · Watch nicknames explained · Rolex waitlist explained.