Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 40mm is much loved among watch enthusiasts for all the right reasons. Apart from its design, its history is also very impressive. Let’s deeply dive into the Daytona moniker’s history and significance. Also, take a look at our impressive collection of all Daytona watches.
Daytona
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Rolex Daytona Rainbow is one of the most popular and nicest-looking Daytona models available. The highly coveted timepiece is known for its stunning rainbow-colored gemstones. This watch is a true work of art and is sure to turn heads wherever it is worn.
The most popular out of those is the 116595RBOW. It features an Everose Gold case and bracelet. The watch is also available in reference 116598RBOW and 116599RBOW featuring Yellow Gold and White Gold case, respectively. All these references feature 36 baguette-cut rainbow gradated sapphires.
The white gold and yellow gold models feature brilliant cut diamonds on the hour indices. The everose gold reference features baguette and square-cut sapphires on the hour indices. This makes the everose gold model look much more appealing than its yellow gold and white gold counterparts.
The timepiece has now been discontinued by the Swiss watch manufacturer. This means that the only way to get your hands on one would be through the secondary market.
With the distinct choice of color scheme used on the dial, the Rolex Daytona 116500LN received the nickname “The Panda.” The timepiece features a white dial, black Cerachrom bezel and black rings around the chronograph sub-dials. The watch clearly resembles the face of a panda.
The white dial with the combination of black sub-dials really helps the watch stand out. One of the reasons the Rolex Daytona Panda is so popular is that it is a versatile watch that can be dressed up or down. It can be worn with a suit and tie for a formal occasion or paired with jeans and a t-shirt for a more casual look.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is available in a variety of material options, including stainless steel, yellow gold, white gold, rose gold as well as Platinum. Further, people get to choose between an Oysterflex bracelet or an Oyster bracelet. Lastly, the users also get the choice between various dials available. The combination that one picks really speaks about them. Here’s a more elaborate description on various case materials available.
Rolex Daytona is a sports watch and many people like getting it in stainless steel. This is because stainless steel durable and corrosion-resistant metal that is widely used in the watch industry. It is known for its strength and ability to withstand wear and tear, making it a practical choice for everyday wear. In addition to its functional benefits, stainless steel also has a sleek and modern look that is well-suited to the sporty design of the Daytona.
One of the more popular options you will see in the Rolex Daytona range is the gold variant. The Daytona is available in both yellow and white gold. Each of these variations adds a touch of luxury and sophistication to the watch. Gold is a precious metal that is known for its beauty and durability. It has been a popular choice for high-end watches, including Cosmograph Daytona. However, it should be noted that gold is a softer metal than stainless steel. It means that it is more prone to scratches and dents.
Rolex introduced the Daytona in Everose Gold back in 2008. It has since been one of the most prominent models in the Daytona series. Many appreciated the combination of Rolex Daytona Everose Gold with the Oysterflex bracelet.
The timepeice even looks a class apart with its Oyster bracelet. Besides that, you get to choose from 7 different dials. These include chocolate dial, black dial with diamond hour indices, meteorite dial and more.
In addition to stainless steel and gold, the Rolex Daytona is also available in Platinum. Platinum is a rare and precious metal known for its durability and shine. It is a more expensive option than gold. But it is also less prone to scratching and discoloration.
Many watch enthusiasts call it the Platona, derived from the fusion of two words, Platinum and Daytona. Released in 2013 as a part of the 50th anniversary of Daytona, the Rolex “Platona” ref. 116506 is made of 950 platinum.
It features an ice-blue dial and a chestnut-brown ceramic bezel. It is also available with an Ice Blue dial featuring Arabic numerals. That particular version is made in limited numbers and it is only sold in the Middle East. It is a special watch for people, especially those living in Dubai.
Rolex Tiger Daytona or Daytona Eye of the Tiger is a true work of art. The timepiece was sold in White Gold or Yellow Gold paired with the Oysterflex bracelet. Instead of a Cerachrom bezel, the timepiece gets trapeze-cut diamonds on its bezel. Furthermore, the watch gets a paved black lacquer dial that gives it the nickname. Rolex Daytona reference 116588TBR is currently exchanging hands for about AED 800,000.
The retail price of the Daytona starts at AED 59,250. Due to a huge demand, the watch is only made available to customers with a buying history with the brand. Even then, the brand will put you on a waitlist, which for Daytonas is now over 2 years.
In the secondary market, the price for an unworn Rolex Daytona Black dial steel model range between AED 105,000 to AED 115,000. Here’s a quick glance at the retail prices and secondary market prices of various Rolex Daytona Models.
| Reference | Case Material | Retail Price | Secondary Market Price |
| 126500LN | Steel – Black Dial | AED 61,750 | AED 115,000 |
| 126503 | Two Tone – Steel/Yellow Gold | AED 80,600 | AED 97,000 |
| 126508 | Yellow Gold | AED 161,700 | AED 198,000 |
| 126509 | White Gold | AED 173,500 | AED 187,000 |
| 126505 | Everose Gold | AED 181,500 | AED 205,000 |
Rolex Daytona green dial is also known as the Daytona John Mayer. The timepiece is made completely out of 18ct Yellow Gold and it features a Green Dial. The combination of yellow gold and a green dial stands out. Even though the watch retails for AED 155,000, it is currently exchanging hands for around AED 270,000. At one point, they were even selling for upwards of AED 550,000 in the secondary market.
While the Cosmograph Daytona is one of the most popular chronographs today, it was not the first chronograph from the house of Rolex. Before the launch of “Daytona,” Rolex released chronographs using outsourced movements. These were housed in conventional Oyster cases.
In 1955, Rolex introduced a more modern chronograph, designated Reference 6234. At the time, the Swiss watch brand was manufacturing approximately 500 of these per year. The particular model featured three smaller sub-dials.
The sub-dial on the 9 o’clock position marks the passage of seconds up to 60 seconds. The sub-dials on the 3 o’clock position and 6 o’clock position mark the passage of minutes up to 30 minutes and hours up to 12 hours, respectively. The reference 6234 also came with a tachymeter scale on the outer ring, and a telemeter chronograph scale on the inner ring.
From here, Rolex started to lay the foundation for what the Daytona watches are today. The Swiss watchmaker launched the reference 6238, which was a successor to the reference 6234. The new model dropped the telemeter scale and updated its appearance. The watch included many of the features that were then passed on to its successor Reference 6239.
Rolex Daytona branding pays homage to Daytona Beach, Florida, the world capital of speed. There were 14 world land speed records set in Daytona Beach between 1904 and 1935. Five of the records were achieved by avid Rolex-wearer Sir Malcolm Campbell. Over the years, the destination became popular for other sporting events including the Daytona 500.
In 1962, Rolex became the official timekeeper of the Daytona International Speedway. In order to mark the occasion, the Cosmograph Reference 6239 was introduced with the nickname “Daytona”. Interestingly, the original example of the 6239 did not include “Daytona” on the dial. Also, it was nicknamed “Le Mans” after the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Due to the low-production run, it might get tough to buy a brand-new Rolex Daytona from the showroom. But, you can get one without having to be on a waitlist with WatchMaestro.
Yes. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is one of the most popular Rolex models and they hold their value quite well.
Yes. You can bring your watch to us and we wills service it for you. Not only that, but we can also help you with any customizations that you might be looking for.
Rolex Daytona was first released back in 1963.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is a popular choice among celebrities. The timepiece has been seen on the wrists of Jay Z, Jonah Hill, Michael Jordan, John Legend and Elle Macpherson, among others.
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