It’s no secret that the Rolex Daytona is one of the most desirable watches within the Brands impressive arsenal. So much so that this has triggered multi-year waitlists for watch-enthusiasts, in the hope of finally being within touching distance of their dream timepiece. But why exactly has this particular piece become such a commodity within the industry?

The Rolex Daytona is rare because of limited production 

One possible factor behind the mysterious climb to fame for the Daytona could be due to scarce production. The reason behind this is when the timepiece was first launched it initially didn’t receive the same hype as previous models, meaning a lack of demand received a lack of production. When it did start to rise in popularity, in order to maintain this demand Rolex made the decision to continue with this low rate of production. Also, due to the Daytona inhibiting a more complex movement than most other watches and thus cannot be shared, production could only be increased so far.

The waitlists as previously mentioned are part and parcel of the low production rates. When authorized dealers and retail stores receive the Daytona watches from Rolex, they work through the list of wait list clients some of which will have been waiting several years. Why wait years you may ask? The reason behind this is due to the price decrease as a pose to purchasing via the open market which could easily be twice the value.  

The Paul Newman touch

The Daytona was named after the famous Florida race track to branch out to the American market. It’s success in later years can be largely attributed to actor and race driver Paul Newman and his endorsement campaign. The watch morphed overnight into being a serious contender within the Rolex collection, and plays a part in why these watches are so hard to locate nowadays.

The Rolex Daytona holds it’s value

Another reason behind the scarcity of Daytona’s within the market is due to its value sustenance. Now, not only are you blessed with a piece that will be around as long as you are, but it is expected to rise in value as time progresses. This rings particularly true on the newer models, as watch collectors want to obtain current production Daytona’s without having to endure the painful waitlist, and will pay significantly above retail in order to ensure that. However, this is also true for many of the pre-owned models due to specifications such as the Zenith-based automatic movements, and also vintage models boasting features such as manual-wind movements and acrylic crystals.

The Rolex Daytona symbolizes prosperity

Arguably, becoming a proud owner of any watch sold by Rolex is a symbol of status in itself, however there is something that hits slightly different with the Daytona. The combination of exclusivity, historic value, design and quality sets this watch apart. This was made more apparent with the inclusion of features such as diamonds, gemstones and 18k gold and 950 platinum alloys.