During World War II, Rolex famously allowed Allied prisoners of war to write to the company and request a watch, which the firm would send directly to the POW camp. (One signed letter from Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf incredibly requested that the recipient “not even think of settlement until after the war.") These chronographs would evolve into the famed “pre-Daytona" references of the 1950s and 1960s, the 6234 and 6238. When, in 1963, the Rolex launched what it once referred to in advertisement as the “Rolex Le Mans"—soon to be officially christened the “Rolex Cosmograph Daytona"—it sparked a collection that would revolutionize its business decades later. Named for the famed raceway in Daytona, Florida, this humble, hand-wound, stainless steel chronograph is now one of the world’s most desirable watches.
During its 60-plus-year lifetime, the Daytona has been offered in myriad executions: Stainless steel and precious metal; hand-wound and automatic; “panda" dial and “exotic" dial; specially stamped dials made for Middle Eastern monarchs; and more. At its heart, however, this is a tool watch meant for racing: Featuring a round case, dual chronograph pushers, a tachymeter-scale bezel, a dial with a triple-register chronograph, a mechanical movement, and an Oyster bracelet, it’s always recognizable from across the room no matter its livery. Want one? You’ll have to be patient—like the Submariner, Royal Oak, and Nautilus, the Daytona is so popular that it’s nigh impossible to buy at retail. That doesn’t stop millions of people around the world from trying, however!
From the article by Allen Farmelo, Paige Reddinger, Victoria Gomelsky, Oren Hartov, Blake Buettner
