Description

The Daytona story began like a love story with racecar drivers, one of the most successful drivers used to wear Rolex watches was Sir Malcom Campbell who set many speed records in Europe and in a Florida city called Daytona Beach, he attracted the attention of Rolex and became their ambassador.

In 1955 version, the Reference 6234, was labeled the “Rolex Chronograph” a pre-Daytona model. The birth, in 1963 the Rolex Chronograph reference 6239 with a tachometer scale engrave on the bezel to enhance readability of the dial was released, incredibly the initial name Rolex used was “Le Mans”, another famous racetrack based in France.  It’s only by 1965 that the *Daytona* name started to be printed on the dial of the 6239.

Surprisingly the Daytona wasn’t a success back then, despite celebrities like Paul Newman endorsing it. Eventually the model became popular and a more modern version was released in 1988 using an automatic Zenith “El Primero” modified movement, the reference 16520 (steel), reference 16523 (in steel and gold) and reference 16528 (in yellow gold).  Main difference was the case size of 40mm, 3mm bigger than its predecessor and the adoption of a sapphire crystal to replace the Plexiglas.  The limited supply helped the watch achieve a cult status.

By 2000, Rolex started to use an in-house movement on the new 1165xx series, it remains as of today the most sought after model of its catalogue.

In 2013 the Daytona Cosmograph Platinum (reference 116506) created by Rolex to commemorate fifty years from the launch of its most celebrated watch.

And finally in 2016 the steel Daytona was refreshed with a new black ceramic bezel the 116500LN series.With each release, the Daytona reinforces its status of cult sport watch, certainly the most desired sports watch in the world.

The present watch is the the fully paved version of the new Daytona Rainbow, reference 116595RBOW-0002 was part of the novelty released in 2018 and became one of the most sought after modern Rolex, the bezel is set with 36 baguette-cut sapphires in rainbow colour shade.

The case, the lugs and crown guard are adorned with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds, the dial has 11 baguette-cut sapphire hour markers and fully paved with small diamonds.   The chronograph counters are made in pink Gold Crystals (a special process developed by Rolex).  The central part of the bracelet is set with diamonds as well.

Two earlier versions exists also, released in 2012, the Rolex Daytona Rainbow references : 116598RBOW (yellow gold) and 116599RBOW (white gold) were produced for a very short period.

Rolex – bio

Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, initially as Wilsdorf & Davis Ltd. Renamed Rolex by 1908 and moved its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919.  Their success is due to their innovation namely the legendary “Oyster” case – first water resistant watch and their extremely reliable movements.
The most famous models are Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, Explorer, GMT-Master, Submariner and many more.
The company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust.
One story, never confirmed by Wilsdorf, recounts that the name came from the French words “horlogerie exquise”, meaning “exquisite clockwork”.