As we all know, there are watches that are classified in the “Diver” category, but there are also those for which a separate “Driver” category has been created, and the undisputed flagship of this category is precisely the Daytona. In principle, the original name of the model was Cosmograph, and it received its “Daytona” nickname in the late 1960s after many years of sponsorship in motorsports and in honor of the Daytona International Speedway.
It is a known fact that Rolex is the largest manufacturer of luxury watches with a production of over a million timepieces each year, but despite this fact, it is a brand that not only best retains its value over time, but also has some models that are almost impossible to simply buy in a distributor's store. The hardest to find, and those for which there are long waiting lists, are precisely the Daytona – in the steel version, regardless of whether it has a white or black dial. The reason for this is not only the cult status the model has earned over all these years, but also the fact that Rolex sends a limited number of steel Daytonas to each of its dealers, and they, in turn, are forced to create lists of waiting customers and/or to select which of them to “delight”.
It is undeniable that the Daytona long ago became a fashion accessory (and even a status symbol), but the watch incorporates very specific functions that aim to pursue its original purpose – that of a true “driver”. Measuring and calculating time, average and instantaneous speed through the use of the chronograph and the tachy-scale – all these functionalities aim to assist every owner of the watch in their sporting activities, and the 40-millimeter Oyster case (when this name is present in the name of a Rolex, you can confidently get it wet) and the Triplock crown provide sufficient water resistance of 100 m for marine adventures.
This particular watch is the newest model, launched in 2016, and its introduction polarized the brand's enthusiast circles – mainly for two reasons: because of the black ceramic bezel and because, in fact, only this bezel is the difference between the new model and the previous Daytona 116520. To be honest, at first it was difficult for us to accept this new model, and we said that there was no way the moment would come when we would like it more than the previous Daytona, but as the classic saying goes, "man proposes, and God disposes"...
We admit it – we like this new Daytona much more than the previous one, and with this black dial, the combination is excellent.
The Daytona is neither the most expensive, the most robust, the most complicated, nor the most beautiful “Driver” – why then is it so desired, valued, and successful? Surely one of the reasons is its now-famous in-house movement, Caliber 4130, which has a reputation for being robust, accurate, durable, and easy to service. The movement's faithful "service" to the fame and honor of Rolex began in 2000 (just to remind you, with this movement Rolex replaced the Zenith El Primero used for decades in this model!) and in these now 18 years, it has earned the reputation of being one of the most reliable and robust chronographs ever. An automatic chronograph with a column wheel, hacking function, operating at 28,800 vibrations, with 44 jewels, 201 parts, and a power reserve of over 72 hours, and of course, we cannot go without some of Rolex's patents – in this case, the Paraflex anti-shock system and the Parachrom hairspring.
The dial of the watch is very balanced and easily legible, despite its many functions, and the luminescence of the hands and indices facilitates its use at night – it is in a pleasant greenish color and glows sufficiently brightly and for a long time.
Despite the fact that the Daytona is a professional instrument, as was the manufacturer's intention from its very launch, it is clear to everyone that for a long time now it has become a luxury attribute – and for ages, this function has prevailed over the original reason for its creation. Perhaps for this very reason, Rolex does many things in this model so that the appearance and the overall impression the watch creates prevail over its functionality. The first thing that makes an impression is the sapphire – Rolex is notorious for the fact that they do not apply anti-reflective coating to the crystals of their watches – there are several versions for the reasons, but I most like the one that Rolex does it so that the appearance of their watches does not change for a long time and generations of its owners can enjoy this consistency. The second, of course, is the fact that the manufacturer managed to create an icon more than 50 years ago, and through all these years and different models, the design has hardly changed – another proof of the timelessness of classic designs. The third is the new bezel – it is made of the in-house material Cerachrom, and the deeply engraved markings on it are filled with precious platinum using a special technology – the effect is stunning! Its purpose is clear - to help in calculating average speed, movement speed, and other important variables for motor sports.
For the case back of the watch, Rolex uses a simple solid back (as, by the way, in all its models) – in the case of the Daytona, it is devoid of any markings, inscriptions, or other "decorations". As we all know, for its watches, Rolex uses precious 904L steel – the difference with the usual 316L for other brands is in its greater resistance (especially against salt water). It is a widely known fact that Rolex can be called fanatics when it comes to the metals they use – a large part of the metallurgical processes are done in-house to guarantee a uniform quality of the raw material – many watches have passed through our hands, but we can say with absolute certainty that no other brand devotes so much attention and effort to the quality of the final product in terms of the finish of the cases – and as a result, a unique quality and presence cannot fail to be achieved.
For many years, the Daytona has been offered with a three-piece steel bracelet with a profile that tapers towards the clasp – in this model, the tradition is respected, and from this point of view, the bracelet is just as comfortable, and the clasp deserves separate attention.
Indeed, in the 1960s, Rolex created a great product and invested the next 50+ years to improve and perfect it. If at the beginning it was valued by customers as a not very expensive specialized watch primarily for motor sports, today it is to a greater extent a fashion accessory, which, however, has all the qualities to become a long-term partner to its owner, who, besides not abandoning you, will also not lose much of its value, because it is no secret to anyone here that this brand, besides not being found with large discounts when new, also has the reputation of a brand with the best value-retaining watches, and this particular model can boldly be ranked at the forefront of Rolex in popularity and, accordingly, one of the most sought-after and desired. Surely one of the reasons for this is the fact that this watch looks equally good on your wrist whether you are in a formal suit or dressed in worn-out jeans and a white t-shirt – in both cases, the Daytona will help attract appreciative glances to your appearance. And the fact that the watch is in a rare condition for its age and has undergone a full service at an authorized service center of the brand makes it a truly great opportunity to acquire a cult representative of the brand, which is desired by many connoisseurs, without having to wait several years on dealer lists.
