Rolex model
Rolex Daytona: history, references and official videos
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is Rolex's chronograph and one of the most sought-after watches in the world. This page explains its four series, the famous Paul Newman dial and what drives the value of a Daytona today – and shows the official Rolex videos about the model.
- Introduced
- 1963 (Ref. 6239)
- Case
- 37 mm → 40 mm since 1988
- Movement today
- Calibre 4131 (since 2023)
- Auction record
- $17.75 million (2017)
Where the name Daytona comes from
The name refers to Daytona Beach in Florida, where motor racing flourished in the early 20th century. Rolex became official timekeeper of Daytona International Speedway in 1962, and a year later, in 1963, it introduced the Cosmograph Daytona with Reference 6239. Its predecessor, Reference 6234, made from 1955 to 1961, was already a chronograph but carried neither "Cosmograph" nor "Daytona" on the dial. From the start the Daytona had a tachymeter scale on the bezel, which turns the stopwatch into a tool for measuring average speed.
The four Daytona series
Collectors divide the Daytona into four series. The number of digits in the reference tells you at a glance which one you are looking at: four digits for the original series, five for the second, six for the third.
| Series | Years | References | Case | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st series | 1963 – late 1980s | 6239 (1963), 6240 (1965), 6263 and 6265 (from 1970) | 37 mm, acrylic crystal | Manual winding, Valjoux 72 base (calibres 722 and Rolex 727) |
| 2nd series | 1988 – 2000 | 16520 | 40 mm, sapphire crystal | Automatic calibre 4030, based on the Zenith El Primero, slowed to 28,800 vph |
| 3rd series | 2000 – 2023 | 116520 and variants | 40 mm | Rolex in-house calibre 4130, certified chronometer |
| 4th series | since 2023 | new references | 40 mm | Calibre 4131 with vertical clutch |
The second series was the first automatic Daytona. Rolex based its calibre 4030 on the Zenith El Primero and reduced its beat rate to 28,800 vibrations per hour. With the third series in 2000 Rolex switched to its own calibre 4130, and the fourth series of 2023 runs on the calibre 4131 with a vertical clutch.
The Paul Newman dial
In 1965 Rolex offered an "exotic" dial on the original-series Daytona, with block hour markers and crosshair sub-dials. Only watches of the original series can carry it, and Rolex stopped making it in the early 1970s. Estimates put production at only 2,000 to 3,000 pieces. The dial takes its name from the actor Paul Newman, whose own Reference 6239 became the most famous Daytona of all.
What is a Rolex Daytona worth?
The value of a Daytona depends above all on the series and reference, the dial, the case material, the condition and whether box and papers are present. Original-series watches with a Paul Newman dial reach the highest prices. Two results show the range at the very top: a steel Reference 6263 from 1969 sold for CHF 989,000 at Christie's in Geneva on 10 November 2013, and Paul Newman's own Reference 6239 reached $17.75 million at Phillips in New York on 26 October 2017 – at the time described as the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction.
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Official Rolex Daytona videos
All videos come from the official Rolex YouTube channel. They show the design details, the calibre 4131 and how to set the watch – the setting guide is How to Set Your Cosmograph Daytona.
The Face of Endurance Racing Since 19632026-06-15
Rolex New Watches 2026 – Cosmograph Daytona2026-04-13
The Triumph of Endurance2025-10-30
Pole Position Since 19632025-06-20
The Trapeze-Cut Diamond Bezel2024-11-05
The Chronograph Pushers2024-11-04
Distinctive Design2024-11-04
Contrasting Mother-of-Pearl Dials2024-04-09
Rolex User Guides – How to Set Your Cosmograph Daytona2023-12-13
The Triumph of Endurance2023-03-27
Perpetual Calibre 41312023-03-27
More Rolex videos, sorted by model: all official Rolex playlists.
Sources (3)
SwissWatchExperts is not affiliated with Rolex. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners; the videos are embedded from the official Rolex YouTube channel.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Rolex Daytona introduced?
Rolex introduced the Cosmograph Daytona in 1963 with Reference 6239. Its predecessor, Reference 6234 (1955–1961), was a chronograph without the words Cosmograph or Daytona on the dial.
Why is it called Daytona?
The name refers to Daytona Beach in Florida, where motor racing flourished in the early 20th century. Rolex became official timekeeper of Daytona International Speedway in 1962.
How big is a Rolex Daytona?
The original series measured 37 mm. Since the second series of 1988 the Daytona has a 40 mm case.
Which movement is inside a Daytona?
The original series used manually wound movements based on the Valjoux 72. From 1988 Rolex used the automatic calibre 4030, based on the Zenith El Primero, from 2000 its own calibre 4130, and since 2023 the calibre 4131 with a vertical clutch.
What is a Paul Newman Daytona?
A Daytona of the original series with the so-called exotic dial, introduced in 1965, with block hour markers and crosshair sub-dials. Only an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 were made, and Paul Newman's own Reference 6239 sold for $17.75 million at Phillips in New York in 2017.
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