Rolex Daytona - A 55 Year-Old Legacy
Initially, Reference 6234 did not have “Rolex Daytona Cosmograph” written on its dial. It was launched in 1955 with a plain “Chronograph” label on it. The company made 500 of these watches yearly from the time it was released. Its production stopped in 1961 due to its unpopularity among its rival brands. Today, however, these so-called “Pre-Daytonas” or Rolex Daytona Stainless Steel models (silver or black dials with stainless steel cases) are very hard to find and have a staggering initial price of £15,000.
This watch got its name from Daytona Beach, Florida – where the first automobile races were held. One of the most famous race car personalities, Sir Malcolm Campbell of England wore this Rolex watch both on and off the racetrack back in the 30’s when he gained the world speed record on land. He even wrote a letter to Rolex in 1931, praising the durability of their Oyster case.