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From SwissWatchExpo… Spotlight on: The Rolex Daytona. 6 Key Models
that defined its history.
Rolex has produced iconic and remarkable watches, that are sought after by collectors and casual
wearers alike.
However, it can be said that there is no other watch more pursued by collectors… than the
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona.
Launched in 1963, the Daytona has a long, colorful history ; and a wide range of models,
that make it so interesting to collect and delve into.
Today, the Daytona’s models number in the hundreds!
We can’t cover them all, so we’ll trace the history of the Daytona from then and now,
with 6 milestone models.
Did your favorite Rolex Daytona models make it? Stay tuned, to find out!
Rolex actually started producing chronograph watches as early as the 1930s, which were
then called, just Rolex chronographs.
In that decade, Rolex produced chronograph wristwatches, like these, with single push
buttons to start, stop, and reset the watch.
In 1955, Rolex introduced a manual-wind chronograph with the Oyster case, reference 6234 (six-two-three-four).
This watch featured a tachymeter scale on the outer ring, and a telemeter scale on the
inner ring.
These early iterations would become the basis of the Rolex Daytona.
The “Pre-Daytona” reference 6238 (six-two-three-eight) is considered the father of the Rolex Daytona,
as this is where it started to take its now iconic form.
Monochromatic dials, baton hands, and the removal of the telemeter scale, then used
to measure distances, resulted in a much cleaner look.
This model is powered by the The Valjoux Calibre 72 chronograph movement.
It did not yet have the Oyster case, nor the screw-down crown and buttons that’s part
of the Daytona’s design today.
In production until 1967, it coincided with its updated version, reference 6239 (six-two-three-nine).
Speaking of the 6239 (six-two-three-nine) – did you know that it’s actually considered
the first ever Rolex Daytona?
Even though it wasn’t even called a Daytona back then, this model marked the period where
Rolex finally categorized, and named their chronographs.
Why is this considered the first Daytona, then?
The changes made to this model gave it the sporty, ruggedly elegant look, that the Daytona
has become famous for.
First, Rolex switched to inverse colors for the sub-dials, from the reference 6238’s
entirely monochromatic dial.
Then, the tachymeter scale was moved from the edge of the dial, onto the bezel.
Initially, the bezel was graduated up to 300 units per hour. Later on changed to 200 units
per hour.
Rolex sponsored the 24 hour race at the Daytona International Speedway, and this led to the
watch being named the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, in 1964.
The following year, the name “Daytona” finally appeared on its dial.
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Now, this isn’t a particular model, but a style that’s familiar to any Rolex fan.
The exotic dial Rolex Daytona.
Produced by Singer, a well-known watch dial manufacturer of the era, the exotic dials
had very distinctive features.
Most noticeable are the outer track and matching sub-dials, and block hour markers instead
of lines.
Notice also the seconds sub-dial beside 9 o’clock. It’s marked at 15-30-45-60 -- instead
of the 20-40-60 marking in the standard models.
While they were first considered undesirable, the exotic dials gained popularity through
legendary actor and racer Paul Newman.
He wore the design in every appearance, that it eventually became known as the “Paul
Newman” dial.
It has since become sought after by collectors; and is now even more valuable than standard
dial Rolex Daytonas!
Even with all the updates to the reference 6239, or the first Daytona, it still used
pump-style pushers that offer less water resistance.
In 1967, Rolex introduced reference 6240 (sixty-two-forty). This time, with screw-down style pushers.
These held the two pushers in place, thus increasing water resistance and earning the Daytona the "Oyster" name on its dial.
The functional design of these pushers have become an integral part of the Rolex Daytona's design DNA, and can still be found in the Daytona models of today.
The next generation of Rolex Daytona watches would be introduced in 1988, on its 25th anniversary.
This marked the first real change in the production of the Daytona – the use of a self-winding
movement, Caliber 4030 (forty-thirty).
It took Rolex two-decades before updating the Daytona with an automatic caliber.
The manually wound movement was actually a weakness of the Daytona, especially during
the quartz crisis.
The series also came with a number of important updates, that bridged the Daytona from the
vintage period… to the contemporary era.
The case size increased to 40 millimeters.
The hour markers changed from blocks, to elongated arrow head markers.
And the sub-dials changed from fully contrasting color, to just a contrasting timing clock.
All these changes put the Daytona up to a modern standard; however, the movement was
still not completely in-house, but rather one based on Zenith El Primero’s Caliber
400 movement.
In the year 2000, Rolex finally introduced the long-awaited reference 116250 (one one
six two fifty).
The first Daytona to have a true in-house movement, the Caliber 4130 (forty-one-thirty).
The movement was designed to run efficiently on the simplest manner possible.
While Caliber 4030 has two separate mechanisms, Caliber 4130 combined them in a single module.
This was done with future serviceability in mind ; and makes the Caliber 4130, a favorite
among watch repairers.
Now we get to the most modern version of the Rolex Daytona.
In 2016, Rolex introduced the reference 116500LN (one one six five hundred LN) – one that
ignited excitement among collectors.
The watch incorporates the Cerachrom ceramic bezel into the classic stainless steel model.
While it has the same technical capabilities as the model before it, the use of the Cerachrom,
Rolex’s proprietary ceramic compound, made it less prone to scratching and fading. It
looks much edgier too, don’t you think?
The Rolex Daytona Ceramic became the most talked about watch of 2016.
Until today, watch lovers eagerly await their turn to own this watch, which is said to have
a years-long wait list.
With a history almost six decades long, it’s amazing to see how far the Rolex Cosmograph
Daytona has come – and how it’s still very in demand, after all these years.
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