The Rolex Daytona is undeniably one of the most remarkable timepieces in the renowned Rolex collection. With a rich history that dates back to the mid-20th century, the Daytona has become synonymous with precision, luxury, and a deep-rooted connection to the world of motorsports. A watch which was once ignored has solidified its position as an icon in the world of horology.
The History of the Rolex Daytona
The Pre-Daytona Era: 1940 -1960
During the years between 1940 and 1960, Rolex ventured into the realm of chronographs by outsourcing movements to external manufacturers. One notable model from this era is the 1955 Chronograph Reference 6234. They produced around 500 of these pieces annually priced at around $200, however these watches didn’t gain popularity with most people still favouring three-hand models. Production of these watches ceased in 1961, marking the end of what is now known as the “Pre-Daytona Era.”
The Birth of the Rolex Daytona: 1962-1963
In 1962, Rolex became the official timekeeper for the Daytona International Speedway, one of the worlds most prestigious race tracks. After abandoning the 6234 model, they introduced the Cosmograph 6239 in 1963 which was given the nickname “Daytona”. However unlike later models, this watch did not have “Daytona” inscribed on the dial. Instead “Cosmograpgh” is written on the dial. At the time “Daytona” was merely a nickname given to the watch. It was also sometimes called “Le Mans” after the 24 Hours of Le Mans Race.
The Different Era’s of the Daytona
The Rolex Daytona model can be split into three distinct eras mainly distinguishable by their movement.
Original Daytona Era
The original Daytona watches are characterized by their four digit reference numbers (6239, 6240, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, 6265) and manual wind movements which were manufactured by Valijoux, a swiss watchmaker. This era began in 1963 and ended in 1988 when a second wave of Daytona’s emerged.
Second Series
By 1988, demand for the previously overlooked Daytona was at an all time high. Rolex introduced the 16520 reference, marking the beginning of the second series. Not only did the reference number changed to five digits, the case size also increased from 37 to 40mm in diameter. The movement had also changed to an automatic movement which was outsourced to Zenith. This movement was initially used in Zenith’s El Primero watch. During this series, Rolex also introduced the lather strap Daytona which featured on the reference 16518 and 16519. Production of these watches ended in 2000, marking the end of this era.
The Modern Daytona
Today we see the modern Daytona line which began in 2000 with the introduction of the 116520 model. The most significant change was the movement. This was the first Daytona which contained in house movement created by Rolex (Calibre 4130). This watch features a self-winding movement similar to the second series but contains some minor modifications.
Celebrities Wearing Rolex Daytona’s
Here are some iconic celebrities wearing beautiful Daytona watches.