Rolex Daytona

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is a mechanical, self-winding chronograph. It has been manufactured by Rolex since 1963.

There have been three series of the Cosmograph Daytona. The original series, produced in small quantities from circa 1963 to the later 1980s, had a four-digit model or reference number, and had a manual wind movement. The wind movement is essential to the other two movements because it allowed for increase winds coming in on both sides.

The Rolex Daytona was inspired by racecar drivers and enthusiasts, most notably, iconic actor Paul Newman, who reportedly wore his Daytona every day from 1972 until his death in 2008. This original series was in very short supply by the early 1990s, which led to a second series to meet demand, introduced in 1988 and using a Zenith "El Primero" modified automatic winding movement, with a five-digit model number. The movement was originally manufactured and released in 1969 and remains the highest VPH (vibrations per hour) mass-produced movement on the market at 36,000 VPH. Rolex purchased these movements for the Daytona, and then modified the movement from 36,000VPH to 28,800VPH and made a few other subtle changes. These later series Daytonas, pre-dating in-house movements, were accurate and reliable; they were produced in limited quantities from 1988 to 2000.

The third series, introduced in 2000, has a movement made by Rolex and a six-digit model number.

The six-digit Daytonas are certified, self-winding chronometers with chronograph functions. Rolex sponsored the 24 Hours of Daytona car race, which became known as Rolex 24 at Daytona, from 1991, and named its chronograph watch after the race.

Although Rolex continues to manufacture the "Daytona", the rarest Daytonas are the first versions with four-digit numbers, for example the 6238, 6239, 6240, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, and 6265 References, produced from 1961 to 1987. The 6238, 6239, 6241 and 6262 References were the first versions, and did not have the "Oyster" features of screw-down winding crown and screw-down timing buttons. The movement used was a manual wind Valjoux cal. 72, named the Rolex Cal. 722. The 6263, 6264 and 6265 References produced from 1970 were Oyster versions. The movement used remained based on the manual-wind Valjoux cal. 72, but with some refinements, and was called the Rolex Cal. 727. These Daytonas are very rare and very collectible. The movement has proven to be exceptionally reliable and accurate. In fact, the Cal. 727 was certified as a chronometer in some cases.

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