Rolex Daytona – new, certified pre-owned or vintage
Second-hand Cosmograph Daytona watches are also desirable collector's items
Introduced in 1963 the
Rolex Daytona took off like a rocket, after initial teething problems, to be the icon of the luxury watch industry and is now one of the most popular models of the brand. The company has been producing significantly fewer
Cosmograph Daytona watches for years than they could have sold, which makes them extremely sought after by collectors. That's why even
pre-owned Daytona watches are traded above selling price, which makes them a very safe investment.
Buying a certified pre-owned Rolex Daytona is easier than you may think! Take a look at our online shop to find the right model. Second-hand Daytona watches are even
cheaper and at the same time – a good investment. Did you choose your favourite model? Besides an instalment payment there are plenty of options for you to pay – simply contact our customer service for more details.
ROLEX DAYTONA 116500LN
The Rolex Daytona: a reliable timepiece
Focusing primarily on the demands of racing drivers in the development of the Daytona, their most striking feature is their
tachymeter bezel. Its chronograph function is activated by two pushers on the right side, which are bolted just like the crown and are therefore watertight. The
chronograph movement is extremely reliable and reacts thanks to coordinated pushers without any loss of time. Visually striking are the three sub-dials, which are coloured in the variants of the current collection. They are also equipped with a self-winding calibre 4130, which guarantees optimum accuracy even in the event of shocks and temperature changes. The Daytona measures speeds of up to 400 units, kilometres per hour or miles.
The Daytona collection at a glance
The current
Daytona collection includes various variants, which differ mainly by their exclusive materials. Rolex relies on the use of luxurious precious metals that give the watch its high-quality appearance. When buying a Daytona, it's also worth considering vintage models and special editions. But also used classic steel models of the Daytona are extremely popular and still have a great trend in price.
What is the price of a pre-owned Rolex Daytona watch?
- The Rolex Daytona 116500LN features a stainless steel Oyster bracelet and case. The bezel is black, the dials come in black and white. The watches are priced between €23,000 and €25,000.
- The Cosmograph Daytona 116520 is the predecessor of the 116500LN with a stainless steel case. The bezel is also made of stainless steel which gives it a high recognition value. The dial comes in white or black. Prices for these Daytona models in certified pre-owned condition range between €16,000 to €19,000.
- The Daytona 116503 or its predecessor, the ref. 116523 is a Rolesor variant, meaning its bracelet is made of a combination of stainless steel and yellow gold. Its dial is available in different colours from black, white to champagne, the bezel comes in gold. The new price of the current variant is €15,350.
- The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116519LN is made of white gold. It comes with a black bezel and black subdials that contrast with the silver dial. It is also fitted with a black Oysterflex strap. The price is €28,380.
ROLEX DAYTONA 6263 |
ROLEX DAYTONA APH EDITION 116520 |
ROLEX DAYTONA 16520 |
ROLEX DAYTONA 116500LN
Discover more about the history of an icon
The Daytona is named after the city of Daytona Beach in Florida, where car races take place since 1903. As early as 1930, Rolex produced a chronograph specifically designed to meet the demands of racing. However, this was not yet the name Daytona, but was provided with the inscription "Chronograph" on the dial. Since other manufacturers in this category had established much earlier, Rolex landed with the Pre-Daytona, as it is called today, with no great success. The former storekeepers, however, are very popular today. As they went for only $200 at the time, they are today traded for around $20,000 or even more.
In 1962, Rolex became the official timepiece for race events at the Daytona International Speedway. Over the years, the races were drawn more and more from beach stretches to partially asphalted roads and have been carried out since 1959 on the fully asphalted Daytona racing track. Already in 1963 Rolex brought out the first Rolex Daytona with the reference 6239. At first, only the specimens intended for the American market had the red lettering "Daytona" on the dial until it later became common for all models.
Since the Daytona was designed specifically for use in racing, its bezel is wider and more legible than comparable models of competing manufacturers. It measures average speeds of up to 400 kilometres per hour and achieved prominence by famous wearers such as Paul Newman beyond racing.
ROLEX DAYTONA 116523
Famous wearers of the Daytona: The "Paul Newman Daytona"
One of the big names in Daytona racing is the Brit Malcolm Campbell, who broke the speed record nine times between 1924 and 1936. He wore both privately, as well as at races a predecessor model of the Daytona. The most famous wearer of the Daytona is the actor
Paul Newman. Although he was never sponsored by Rolex, the model he was wearing was unofficially referred to as
"Paul Newman Daytona". Newman wore an early version of the Daytona with the reference 6239 with the white exotic dial, of which only a small edition was produced and which today has a great collectors value.
Newman was also a race driver in addition to acting. Joanne Woodward, Newman's second wife, gave him a Daytona engraved with "Drive Carefully Me". In 2017, the original Newman Daytona was sold at an auction in New York for 17.75 million dollars which converts into 15.3 million euros – making the "Paul Newman Daytona" the most expensive watch in the world.
Other interesting collections from Rolex
- With its rotating 24-hour bezel, the GMT-Master II is the perfect companion for anyone who wants to keep track of more than one time zone.
- A classic among luxury watches continues to be the Rolex Submariner. Whether worn with a casual outfit, a suit or when diving, the Submariner is always the perfect companion and an absolute must-have for every watch collector.
- If you are looking for a classic watch, the Datejust is guaranteed to please. The design of the Datejust watches is kept rather simple and the numerous model variants offer the right watch for every taste.
- The Milgauss is a real powerhouse: the watches in the collection withstand magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gauss and were originally developed for professional use. With its orange, lightning-shaped hand and optional green crystal inlay or blue dial, the Milgauss definitely stands out on the wrist of its wearer.
