In this feature-length article from the WatchTime archives, we take a look at the 53-year history of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, the brand’s iconic chronograph watch.
The Daytona International Speedway has been in operation since 1959.
For most of Rolex?s history, chronographs took a back seat to three-handed models. The company did produce some chronographs, but equipped them with third-party calibers that ticked in conventional, classic cases, not its well-known Oyster case. Rolex introduced its first Oyster-cased chronograph during WWII, but it was anything but a hit.
The Cosmograph Reference 6239 debuted in 1963. It was nicknamed the “Daytona.”
In 1955, Rolex launched its Reference 6234 chronograph. Neither ?Cosmograph? nor ?Daytona? appeared on the dial; the watch was simply labeled ?Chronograph.? Rolex made about 500 of these watches each year until 1961, when the reference was discontinued. The watch sold for about $200 in the early 1960s. This model wasn?t very successful, either: it and other early Rolex chronographs often languished on dealers? shelves because other manufacturers had long since established themselves as chronograph specialists. Nowadays these so-called ?Pre-Daytonas? are rare and desirable: $20,000 is merely the entry-level price for one of these hard-to-find models with a silver or black dial and stainless-steel case. Reference 6240 (1965) had screwed push-pieces and a bezel with a black acrylic inlay.
The first automobile ra...