How NASCAR Really Inspired Rolex’s Greatest Chronograph Collection

The Rolex Daytona is associated with a watch NASCAR For racing drivers and gear heads. Rolex used to advertise itself with the slogan “Worn by men who guide the destinies of the world.” With a wide range of luxury watches, the Swiss watch brand makes everything from dress watches to tool watches.


The brand’s most famous tools are the Submariner and Daytona, the latter designed for drivers. With a 37mm or 40mm dial, the ability to set intervals and measure average speeds, this dainty Daytona watch is one of the most sought after on the planet.

A twist on today’s elegant history but without all the Skydweller’s overkill or the Submariner’s excessive volume. The Daytona easily slips perfectly under a shirt cuff, straddling between a dress watch and a sports watch. The $200,000 Rolex Daytona epitomizes exclusivity where luxury watches, racing, fashion, and history meet.

Related:10 details hidden behind Daytona International Speedway


Luxury watches like the Rolex Daytona are the go-to for racing

Rolex Daytona photo 1
Rolex newsroom

All races are an effective measure of who can travel the fastest distance. For racing, watch brands make chronograph watches. Simply put, this means that the watch has a stopwatch feature. In watchmaking terms, this is a complication, a feature that turns a watch into a tool.

In Formula 1, luxury watchmakers sponsor almost every time. Almost every Grand Prix weekend The Rolex name is plastered along the pit wall, and the race begins when one of their watches counts down. Timekeeping and Rolex are bound together by racing.

Although a luxury item for racers, the Daytona is still a tool. the Daytona is the go-to race. Rolex gives this watch the name Cosmograph. In Rolex terminology, this is its name for the chronograph. The Rolex Daytona chronograph is associated with racing.

How was the Rolex Daytona named after the Daytona Speedway?

Rolex Daytona at Daytona International Speedway
Rolex Newsroom and Stefan Cooper

The first highly successful Rolex watch bore the Oyster Perpetual, so-called for its water-resistant capabilities. This watch survives to this day and is an entry-level Rolex. The Rolex Daytona began life as a variant of this. Rolex uses reference numbers to identify the differences in its watches. Reference number 6234 was introduced to the market as the Oyster Perpetual Chronograph in 1955.

It features three small dials on the face of the watch, which are the seconds, minutes, and the ticking hours. According to RolexThe chronograph counters stand out clearly on the dial thanks to their intensely contrasting colour, black on a light-coloured dial or light-colour on a black dial.

Reference number 6239 named the Cosmograph in 1963, but initially as Le Mans, the pinnacle of European marquee racing. formation The third part of the Triple Crown Le Mans, Monaco and Indy 500. Breitling, of course, partnered with Bentley For the return of Le Mans in 2001. Rolex is, of course, Swiss.

Nevertheless, the Daytona was an emerging part of the automotive calendar and presented an excellent opportunity for Rolex to expand into the United States. Rolex became the Official Timekeeping Partner of Daytona in 1965 24 hours of daytona. The Daytona name has found its way onto the dial, just above the hour marker, to celebrate this.

Rolex Daytona at Daytona International Speedway
Rolex Newsroom and Stefan Cooper

Rolex developed the Daytona design. These included screw presses for the chronograph function, making the watch completely water resistant. Throughout the life of the Daytona, the watch has maintained an impressive 37mm diameter dial before upgrading to 40mm in 1988. The watch features a tachymeter bezel, which allows the wearer to take a reading of the average speed.

Those built between 1965 and 1969 are some of the most desirable examples, with these Older watches support 24-hour racing. Many collectors are particularly interested in reference number 6240, which is a black and white Daytona with screw-down buttons.

It was around this period that Paul Newman, star of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and The Sting, began wearing a Rolex Daytona as he began his career as a racing driver. The Daytona 6239 features a contrasting black and white dial with a steel bezel. Unlike many Daytonas, Newman sat on a leather strap. According to ForbesWhen this came to auction in 2017, the star’s watch sold for $17.8 million to a “mystery phone bidder.”

Related:10 crazy things you didn’t know about the Daytona 500

How did the Rolex Daytona Panda get its $200,000 used price?

Rolex Daytona on an Oyster flex bracelet
Rolex newsroom

used watches Not as well respected as used car dealers. After all, most car dealerships sell both new and used cars. This is not the case for the watch world, with its authorized dealers and gray market. Although late last year Rolex threw a wrench into the works with its certified pre-owned watches. In the gray market, the Daytona carries an ironic characterization.

At Chrono 24, a watch market, the Daytona starts at $16,475, with special editions like the Daytona Platinum asking for nearly $100,000. However, rare vintage examples cost even more, approaching $200,000.

Reference number 16520 refreshed the Daytona, bringing its design line with models like the Explorer II. This Rolex watch used a movement from Zenith, another Swiss watchmaker. There was a limited offer of the new 1991 Daytona due to supply restrictions. This created a market like souq Porsche 911 GT3 RSBecause of scarcity came great demand. The Daytona Chief 16528 was born, and a blue-dial gold watch followed with just 10 examples.

Daytona now has a rare tradition, with only two major releases since 1990. The Daytona Platinum used a brown and sky blue dial to celebrate Daytona’s 50th birthday. Daytona is one of the most exciting hours of the 2000s, and as a result, the “Trophy” is for many an impossible dream. Ref 116500, the infamous “panda” watch. Just like the limited edition 911sTo get one of these, one has to spend a lot of money on cheaper products to get the watch they really want.

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