It is 60 years since Rolex introduced its first Cosmograph Daytona in 1963 as the ultimate racing chronograph.
Demand for the collection has never been hotter, making it almost impossible for customers to buy any Daytona new from an authorised dealer.
The secondary market has stepped up to ensure availability for pre-owned Rolex Daytona watches, with experts like Bob’s Watches ensuring that every piece they sell is precisely inspected, serviced, and authenticated by a team of Rolex experts.
It is hard to recall a time when demand was anything other than off the scale for the Rolex Daytona. It has certainly been selling on the secondary market for over-retail prices for longer than any other mass-produced watch.
But that has not always been the case. There have been decades when the collection was widely unpopular and some iterations were even considered ugly.
All that changed when Paul Newman brought his Hollywood cool and motor racing credibility to the Daytona from the 1980s onwards.
This story helped one of his own watches break the world record auction price in 2017 when his favourite Daytona sold for $17.8 million.
The rest is modern history, with authorised dealers scoffing at new customers with the temerity to walk into one of their stores and ask to buy one.
Bob’s Watches wants to help Daytona lovers secure the watch of their dreams, and has an extensive inventory of desirable pieces to buy right now.
Gold Rolex Daytona Watches
White dial, black dial; gold case and bracelet or gold watch on an Oysterflex or leather strap?
Bob’s Watches Yellow Gold Rolex Daytona watches.
Rolex Daytona 116518
Two interesting options here. Above, a Rolex 116518 from 2013 with a golden dial with white indexes and Daytona written above the small seconds counter; all framed by an 18ct gold tachymeter bezel.
Described as in excellent condition and sold on a brown alligator leather strap with yellow gold Oysterlock clasp, the watch is available on Bob’s Watches for $31,495 with box and papers.
Below is a completely different iteration of the 40mm ref. 116518, this time from 2020 on a black Oysterflex strap with the modern (and popular) Easylink 5mm easy extension link.
Buy it now with Rolex box, booklets, hang tags, card holder and Rolex warranty card dated 10/2020 for $43,495.
Rolex Daytona 116508
There are gold dialed versions of the Daytona Ref. 116508, but the most desirable, and hardest to find, is the version with a deep green dial with a golden bezel.
You will not get a lot change out of $100,000 for this 40mm gold on gold watch housing Rolex’s automatic 4130 chronograph movement.
Click here to express your interest in the watch with Bob’s Watches. You will be notified when there is one back in stock.
Platinum Rolex Daytona Watches
Aficionados know at a glance when somebody is wearing a 50th anniversary platinum version of the Rolex Daytona by its ice blue dial, a watch considered a step up in class from the flippers’ favourites in steel.
The watch was given an upgrade earlier this year when Rolex introduced a version with a crystal case back, exposing its automatic 4130 automatic chronograph movement with its 18ct gold rotor.
Rolex Daytona 116506
The OG is still highly sought after, and selling for north of $100,000.
Rolex Daytona Steel And Gold Watches
Bang on trend, comparatively affordable and available to buy right now at Bob’s Watches is the Daytona Ref. 116523 two tone model in gold and steel.
The watch has been in the Rolex catalogue for decades, and examples in excellent condition can be acquired for under $20,000.
Variations over the years have included dial colors in slate, white and gold with sub dials circled in black in the 1990s or more recently in gold.
Rolex Daytona 116523
Bob’s Watches has this excellent condition Rolex 116523 from the early 2000s in stock for $17,995.
Rolex Daytona Stainless Steel
The Rolex that needs no introduction, certainly not around the board room table of your typical Manhattan stock broker or accountant.
If the Rolex Daytona Ref. 116500 isn’t the most desirable chronograph from The Crown, then it is certainly the reference desired by the most people.
The only choice, whether to go for a version with a ceramic bezel or an older model with the steel tachymeter (Ref. 116520) framing a black or white dial.
Prices for the ceramic bezel models, Ref. 116500LN, on the secondary market have been on a rollercoaster, peaking at over $40,000 early last year, dropping to $25,000 and now showing early signs of recovery to $30,000 or more.
Rolex Daytona 116500
The Rolex 116500 white dial version is slightly harder to find, and commensurately more expensive.
Bob’s Watches has this piece from 2018 available immediately for $32,495.
Rolex Daytona 116520
Steel-bezeled Rolex Daytona 116520 variations are trading at attractive prices very close to modern Daytona retail values these days.
Further reading
For a more in-depth study of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, check out this Ultimate Buying Guide from Bob’s Watches CEO and Rolex guru Paul Altieri.
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It is labelled as a Promotion at the top of the post.