If ever there was a story of going from zero to hero, it is the story of the Rolex Daytona. From being forgot and disliked, with just under 500 sold per year in its early days, the Rolex Daytona has evolved into one of the most sought-after watches of all time, with long waiting lists and often high resale values. The question is, how did this happen? This is the story of how the watch no one wanted to buy turned into an icon.

The history behind the icon

The Rolex Daytona, officially known as the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, was introduced in 1963. The name "Daytona" came as a result of the watch's association with the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, where Rolex was the official timekeeper during racing events.

The Rolex Daytona initially had a hard time selling, and things did not improve during the so-called quartz crisis of the 1970s. At this time, the battery-driven watch really caught on and the mechanical clock started to feel dated. Many of the major Swiss watch manufacturers went through a challenging period, and several of them had to either close down their operations or sell their businesses.

It was only when the Swiss watch industry recovered in the 80s and interest in vintage watches increased that Rolex took a big step forward with the launch of the new Daytona reference 16520 in 1988. It featured a modified movement from watchmaker Zenith and their well-known chronograph movement” El Primero” and thus became Rolex's first automatic chronograph.

By the 2000s, Rolex introduced its first in-house chronograph movement, calibre 4130, reference 116520, waiting lists had grown to such an extent that Rolex could no longer manufacture enough watches to satisfy the increasing demand.

A watch everyone wanted to buy

At the beginning of the article, we mentioned that Rolex only sold about 500 of the Daytona each year. Do you think these watches are highly sought after today? The answer is yes, they are extremely sought after.

In the world of watches, people often talk about the concept of "scarcity". This means that the fewer numbers of a specific model that are available, the more people want them. This has made these early Daytona models highly desirable to collectors and watch enthusiasts.

A watch that is a little more interesting: Rolex Daytona 6239 "Paul Newman" (Ca. 1963-1969)

Another aspect that has catapulted the Rolex Daytona to the stars are its famous wearers, notably the legendary actor Paul Newman. Newman received his now-famous Daytona 6269 as a gift from his wife, Joanne Woodward, and on the rear case were engraved the words "Drive Carefully, Me".

During the production of these watches, Rolex (Singer) produced the now highly sought after "exotic dials." These dials had an odd design with Art Deco numerals, crossed bars with square tips and where some dials were tri-coloured while others were bi-coloured.

The interesting thing is that the exotic dials were not very popular when they were launched, but over time, their popularity increased greatly, mainly thanks to their association with the aforementioned Paul Newman. As a result, they have become highly sought after and considerably more valuable than the standard dials from the same period.

What should you look for?

When considering buying a Rolex Daytona, there are some important factors to consider. Below we have listed what might be good to take into account.

Material: Choose a material that suits your style and preferences. The Rolex Daytona is available in a variety of materials, including steel, gold and platinum.

Dial: Various dials. Rolex offers a wide variety of styles and colours, so choose one that suits your personal taste. It can be the classic black and white dial or something a little more unique and personal.

Condition and Authenticity: If you are buying a used Daytona, make sure it is in good condition and that the authenticity can be confirmed. Do your research and buy from reliable sources.

Price and Budget: Determine your budget and be prepared that the price of a Rolex Daytona can vary depending on age, condition and rarity. Set realistic expectations and make a thorough price comparison.

Maintenance: Consider service and maintenance. Regular service is important to preserve its value and performance.

Read more: How to take care of your quality watch

Buying a Rolex Daytona is an investment, so take the time to consider these factors and choose the watch that best suits your style and needs.