It's estimated that Rolex produces between 20,000 and 40,000 Daytonas every year, and these numbers include literally every Daytona made, whether they are the stainless steel, gold, or platinum models.
The standouts are the platinum with a display caseback and the new stainless steel, but Rolex now has more than 30 models in the Daytona line.
The Rolex Daytona Is Rare With Limited Production Runs
Additionally, since the Daytona uses a movement that is more complex than most of the other watches in the brand's catalog, Rolex can only ramp up production so much since the Daytona's movement is not shared with any other watches.
What makes the Rolex Daytona so hard to find? The combination of low production numbers of past and present models, the Daytona's high complications, and the watch's unique features, especially in vintage models, make it difficult to obtain.
The total production number for 2021 is closer to 1.24m watches.
While a number of companies produce their own movements, Rolex is one of the few that takes the “in-house” designation one step further, and there are actually a number of proprietary Rolex materials that the brand produces entirely in-house.
1. GMT-Master “Pepsi” The “Pepsi” nickname refers to the blue and red bezel, which was the original colorway of the very first GMT-Master from the mid-1950s. Today, Rolex offers the Pepsi bezel on both a stainless steel model, as well as an 18k white gold variant.
Despite producing close to one million watches every single year, the production process for each watch takes around 12 months from start to finish, giving an insight into the care that is taken to make sure every single Rolex timepiece meets the standards that customers have grown to expect.
Among its various models, the Rolex Daytona with a Meteorite Dial was particularly captivating. The dial of this watch is made from a meteorite that fell to Earth millions of years ago, making it a unique and sought-after timepiece. However, as of 2023, the Daytona with a Meteorite Dial has been discontinued.
How Long is the Rolex Daytona Waitlist? To buy a Rolex Daytona, the waitlist is often suggested to be 5 or 10 years long. The harsh reality is that unless you have a large spending history with your Authorised Rolex dealer you're unlikely to ever be offered a Rolex Daytona.
Market demand plays a major role in the valuation of any timepiece. As the most popular luxury watch brand in the world, there is always a steady demand for Rolex watches. The rarer models, such as the Daytona and Submariner, can fetch high prices even when the overall market is declining.
Unicorns: The Ultra-Rare Rolex Daytonas 16516 In Platinum. Created in 1963 as a watch for whizzing around race cars at over 300 km/h, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona represents a timeless icon within the world of watchmaking.
Demand & Supply. Demand and supply is ultimately the main reason for sky-rocketing Rolex prices. Although Rolex produces a lot of watches each year—around 800,000—demand is still too much, which is why you will find yourself on a waiting list if you ask for one at a local AD.
The current owner, James Cox a former boyfriend of Newman's daughter Nell, owned the watch since 1984 when Paul Newman gave it to him. Cox didn't know how valuable it was until a Japanese man excitedly recognized it as a “Paul Newman watch” at a trade show in 1993.
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch that Newman made famous is known today as the Daytona Panda because of its black and white color scheme, reminiscent of the panda bear. The original Paul Newman Daytona Panda was worn by the actor in 1968 and was later sold in October 2017 for a whopping $17.75 million.
Since Rolex became a partner of the event in 1992, it has handed the winners the Cosmograph Daytona with an engraved case back. However, its relationship with Daytona, Florida dates back to 1963, when William France, Sr wore a Rolex and pronounced Rolex as the Official Timepiece of the Daytona International Speedway.
The Daytona is another highly sought-after Rolex model, particularly among collectors. It was first introduced in 1963 and has since become synonymous with racing. Its distinctive design, high-quality craftsmanship, and association with racing legends such as Paul Newman make it a lucrative choice.
Also new for 2023 is the metal frame around the Cerachrom bezel of the Rolex Daytona. This is another immediately noticeable update that affects every Daytona with a Cerachrom bezel — select gold Daytona watches will continue to have a single-piece 18k gold bezel.
The GMT Master and GMT Master II. Rolex GMT Master and Rolex GMT Master II are the best Rolex watches for investment. They are practical and hardwearing watches with the prestigious Rolex branding. You can get a GMT Master at a few thousand pounds, but rarer models can go for tens or hundreds of thousands.
In Australia, the waiting list has now been superseded in favour of the expression of interest. Australian Rolex ADs have stopped taking deposits and stopped using the term waiting lists but will offer an EOI. With an EOI, they are not obliged to provide the product but you just get placed in a queue.
The Rolex Daytona is one of the most sought after Rolex. Pricing for a Daytona ranges between $15,100 to $75,000. Because the Rolex Daytona collection is produced in such limited quantities, these watches are worth up to 200% on the pre-owned market for the stainless steel references.
Once you come to grips that you'll have to hold onto your $10,000 and wait, you'll soon start to wonder how to play the waitlist game at Rolex authorized dealers. The Rolex waitlist is an arbitrary order in which clients are ranked to receive new Rolex watches as they come into the store.
1953: The Submariner
Whether vintage or brand new, mint or beat to hell, the Sub is arguably the most recognizable and desirable watch of all time. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual was the basis for the Submariner, offering waterproofness and automatic winding.
Rolex Milgauss: The least popular Rolex? Watch fans have been speculating about the discontinuation of the Rolex Milgauss for two years now, but there it is, in the Rolex catalog. I'm honestly surprised it's still around because the Milgauss is probably the least popular Rolex model in its current form.
A Paul Newman Daytona can only have the reference number 6239, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, 6265 — Paul's very own watch is a ref 6239 gifted by his wife, Joanne Woodward. Officially the world's most expensive wristwatch. Paul Newman's #Rolex "Paul Newman" Daytona sells for $17,752,500.