Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona: A Remarkable Partnership

Rolex 24 at Daytona is one of the watch world’s most important and iconic partnerships. Here’s why.

Some, perhaps most, may say that the Omega Speedmaster is the most significant chronograph ever. Sure, it went to space and is likely the most famous chronograph in history. As far as it being the most important, I think it depends on the angle you’re considering.

See, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is undeniably one of the industry’s major races. The fact that Rolex’s neighborhood chronograph is associated with that, I believe, makes it a truer chrono in a sense.

After all, chronographs were built for racing. Even the Speedy was meant for the tracks before it went to the moon. The relationship between the crown and the famed Florida race is rife with compelling history and importance. 

After all, sports watches are tools meant to be used and engaged with. The most important models have inextricable connections to sports and adventure.

Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona: Some History

A 24-hour sports car endurance race, the Rolex 24 At Daytona is held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida, at the Daytona International Speedway. This track is truly unique. It’s just over three-and-a-half miles, with a “tri-oval” course allowing for better viewing and speed.

This was the vision of Bill France Sr, the founder of NASCAR, who built the track in 1959. He also wanted to show the European sports car racing world that a US track can attract international audiences. Today, it’s one of the most important tracks in the sport.

This is just one of the reasons this race is so momentous.

Additionally, it’s the inaugural race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. 

And, of course, the race itself demands a lot from its sportsmen. The 24-hour format features four simultaneous races. A high level of endurance isn’t just expected from the racer but the cars, machinery, and the teams as a whole. It’s an all-hands occasion.

Naturally, a race like this requires a spec-forward watch.

Rolex became the Daytona Speedway’s official timekeeper in 1962. To commemorate this, they released Reference 6234, the latest Cosmograph chrono, and nicknamed it the Daytona in 1963. This partnership was, and is, relevant because of the crown’s history with Daytona Racing.

In the 1930s, Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, partnered with Sir Malcolm Campbell. A famous racer known for setting records, Campbell was also a fan of Rolex watches. As brand ambassadors, Campbell and Wilsdorf could sell Rolex as a Bond-like brand that represented glamor, adventure, and a touch of eliteness. 

To this day, the most important racers in the sport will have records and wins at this coveted race. In 2024, Josef Newgarden, Matt Campbell, and Dane Cameron won the 24 Hours of Daytona for Porsche Penske Motorsport. 

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

Again, Rolex released the Cosmograph Daytona in 1963 to mark its partnership with the Speedway. However, the watch itself wouldn’t feature the word Daytona on the dial until 1964, when the brand printed it under the Cosmograph moniker. Then, in 1967, the Daytona mark moved to the top of the six-hour subdial.

However, Rolex had been producing chronographs since the ‘40s. They didn’t use in-house movements but put chrono calibers in their signature Oyster cases. The Reference 6234 came out in 1955. Rolex produced about 500 a year until they discontinued it in 1961. 

Though they didn’t feature the Cosmograph nor Daytona on the dial, Reference 6234 is definitely the first true ancestor of today’s Daytonas.

Today, Rolex designed several iterations of Daytonas to support race car drivers. Sure, we have modern technology to measure elapsed time and average speed. However, the cultural and historical connection between the Daytona Watch and the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is rock solid. Plus, a good chronograph is always a good contingency plan for racers.

There are four generations of Daytonas. The first generation is hand-winding, while the second generation, which came out in 1988, is automatic. In 2000, the third generation was the first to bring all the movements in-house. 

Then recently, in 2023, Rolex launched the fourth generation. These extra sleek Daytonas feature a bezel with a polished band and smaller indices and register rings.

Rolex Daytona Panda

The Rolex Daytona Panda features a panda dial. This means that the dial itself is white, but the bezel and subdial outlines are black. It got its nickname because the palette is reminiscent of the namesake bear.

Actor Paul Newman popularized this design in the ’60s. Today, it’s one of the most coveted Daytonas on the market. If you’re lucky, you can find a panda dial Daytona through an authorized dealer for a cool $35,000.

Rolex still makes this color scheme today. Supposedly, they churn out anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 a year. This sounds like a lot, but it simply doesn’t mean the demand for this popular variation. 

Rolex Rainbow Daytona

The Rolex Rainbow Daytona, released in 2012, is one of the flashiest variations. This subline of a subline comes in three versions, all of which feature brightly colored gem sets.

Reference 116598RBOW is the original yellow gold that launched the collection. Reference 116599RBOW is the white gold version, while reference 116595RBOW is the rose gold version made from Rolex’s Everose. 

All of the versions feature a rainbow gem-set dial. However, there’s also the black and gold dial with diamond indices, the black and silver dial with rainbow indices, and the full-diamond-encrusted dial with rainbow indices.

Rolex Daytona Platinum

The Rolex Daytona Platinum is one of the most elegant Daytonas. Its ice blue dial with contrast subdials complements its strong and beautiful silvery-white construction and enhances its legibility.

As one of Daytona’s fourth-generation offerings, it’s an overall sleeker watch, too.

The coolest part? This model even has a sapphire caseback, which Rolex almost never does.

Paul Newman Rolex Daytona

In 2017, Paul Newman’s Daytona fetched $17.5 million at Phillips auction house in New York. This was a major record, drumming up more demand for the black-and-white style he wore.

The literal Paul Newman Rolex Daytona was a Reference 6239. It had a steel bezel and black subdials against a white dial face. It was a gift from his wife, Joanne Woodward. Newman, a racer himself, actually wore this watch on the tracks.

Since there’s only one watch Newman himself wore, similar styles and generations are often referred to as a “Paul Newman Daytona.” These include the following references: 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, and 6265.

Rolex Daytona Rose Gold

The Rolex Daytona rose gold editions actually come in a few variations. You can get it with a rose gold dial and black subdials for a more monochrome look. There’s also a black dial with rose gold subdials for more contrast.

You can even find it with diamond settings to add a touch of sparkle. And these are just a few of several.

Rolex has a special Everose rose gold. In addition to the copper that gives it its pink tint, they add platinum. This allows the alloy to stay lustrous, strong, and vivid for a lifetime.

Rolex Daytona Black

Arguably, the Rolex Daytona black version, or black versions, are the core look. The original 1963 versions were usually black. It’s also the most neutral, similar to the black Submariner.

Modern iterations include a black dial and bezel, with the subdials outlined in white for legibility, and a white dial with black subdials and a black bezel.

Rolex Daytona Two Tone

The Rolex Daytona two-tone variations feature a half-gold and half-steel construction, which is also known as a Rolesor construction. 

On an oyster bracelet, the outer links are stainless steel, while the inner links are gold. On the Daytona case, the pushers are gold, and the case is stainless steel. However, you can also find Daytonas with either gold or black ceramic bezels.

This adds a touch of dressiness to the otherwise sporty watch.

Conclusion: A True Racer’s Chronograph

The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona may be called that for sponsorship reasons. However, the partnership is undeniably apropos. 

While all chronographs are technically racer watches, few have stayed culturally close to the sport as much as the Rolex Daytona. Few races have been associated with a watch brand for as long and as strongly as the 24 Hours in Daytona.

Questions? Comments? Let me know!