There seems to be an endless variety of Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas. Many collectors dream of getting their hands on one of the rare vintage models that can cost well over 115,000 USD. More recent two-tone editions occupy the other end of the spectrum, selling for as little as 15,500 USD. Brand new rose or yellow gold versions demand about 35,500 USD, while the extraordinarily popular stainless steel model with a black ceramic bezel changes hands for around 26,000 USD. The platinum Daytona with an ice blue dial and brown ceramic bezel tops the price range for current timepieces at approximately 83,000 USD.

Buying Tips Stainless steel models have the potential to appreciate in value

Two-tone watches starting at 15,500 USD

Rare collector's watches: Paul Newman Daytona, Pre-Daytona

Powered by the in-house caliber 4130 since 2000

Daytonas with the Zenith El Primero (1988-2000) caliber are highly coveted

A Particularly High Performer: Ref. 116500LN

You can find the 2016 Rolex Daytona with the reference number 116500LN on Chrono24 for approximately 26,000 USD in mint condition and 23,500 USD pre-owned. These prices are more than 11,500 USD higher than the manufacturer's recommended retail price. However, purchasing on Chrono24 means receiving your Daytona quickly rather than potentially having to wait several years. This particular model has a black ceramic bezel, an Oyster bracelet, and a black or white dial.

Prices for Popular Vintage Daytonas

Vintage Daytonas are often much more expensive than their modern counterparts. This is in part due to the fact that models from the 60s, 70s, and 80s are extremely difficult to find today. What's more, select editions, such as the Paul Newman Daytona, come with unique stories that make them particularly interesting to collectors.

The main feature of the Paul Newman Daytona is its multicolored "exotic dial" with a contrasting minute track. Its subdials also feature unique Art Deco numerals. Another defining detail is the small boxes at the end of each subdial index. Beyond its so-called "exotic" dial, this model is no different than the standard Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239. Watches with an exotic dial were slow sellers when they first debuted, so Rolex only produced them in limited quantities. Today, the Paul Newman Daytona is one of the most coveted vintage watches of all time, and prices over 235,000 USD are the norm. In 2017, Paul Newman's personal Daytona – a gift from his wife Joanne Woodward – sold at auction for the record price of 17.75 million USD, making it the world's most expensive Rolex.

You can purchase a "normal" Paul Newman Daytona for around 213,000 USD. That being said, it's not uncommon to see prices fluctuate up to and beyond 300,000 USD. If you can do without the special multicolor dial design, you will find the ref. 6239 costs as little as 61,500 USD or perhaps even less if you're lucky. In terms of technology, these vintage watches are identical.

Cosmographs with the reference numbers 6241 and 6240 are also worth taking a look at. The former is comparable to the ref. 6239 but has a Bakelite, or plastic, bezel. Set aside at least 184,000 USD for this rare timepiece. The ref. 6240 is even rarer and was the first water-resistant Daytona thanks to its screw-down push-pieces. Furthermore, it was the first model to have the word "Oyster" stamped on its dial. The Oyster case is especially robust and has been used for nearly every Rolex model since 1926. Like the ref. 6241, the 6240 has a Bakelite bezel and was manufactured in the 1960s. Prices for this extremely uncommon Cosmograph sit around 89,000 USD.

How much do newer stainless steel models cost?

More recent models like the ref. 116520 are significantly more affordable than vintage watches from the 1960s and 1970s. The 116520 was introduced at the turn of the millennium and was the first Rolex chronograph to feature the in-house caliber 4130. Up until then, Rolex had relied on modified movements from other manufacturers like Zenith or Valjoux. Unlike the current generation of Daytonas, the ref. 116520 comes with a stainless steel bezel. While this watch would have cost you about 10,500 USD in lightly used condition in 2015, today it demands some 21,500 USD. Never-worn pieces are rare since this model is no longer in production and, thus, demand a higher price of 28,500 USD.

Introduced in 2016, the ref. 116500LN has a ceramic bezel and a list price of 13,150 USD, just over its initial list price of 12,400 USD. Upon release, prices for this chronograph quickly ballooned to over 19,000 USD on Chrono24. As of 2019, prices for a never-worn watch have increased to 26,000 USD. You can save about 2,400 USD by purchasing a pre-owned timepiece instead. The ref. 116500LN has clearly performed well financially, and collectors consider it a safe investment option.

When it comes to value appreciation, the Daytona ref. 16520 takes it to the next level. This model debuted in 1988 and gets its power from a heavily modified Zenith El Primero movement. Prices for a used version of this Cosmograph Daytona climbed from 11,500 USD in 2010 to 13,000 USD in 2015. By the end of 2016, the 16520 was demanding around 18,000 USD. In 2020, this model reached its record price of more than 35,000 USD.

How much does a gold or platinum Daytona cost?

The Rolex Daytona ref. 116502 costs about 51,000 USD in mint condition and 48,500 USD pre-owned. This timepiece features an 18-karat yellow gold case, gold bezel, and green dial. Its official list price sits at 39,000 USD. Versions with different dial colors are less popular and, therefore, less expensive. Even those with diamond indices demand only 41,500 USD new, making them much more affordable than the Daytona with a green dial.

Gold Daytonas on Oysterflex bracelets – a type of bracelet made of thin metal inserts covered in elastomer – come with the added benefits of a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel and a lower price tag. These gold chronographs sell for around 35,500 USD in mint condition. Pre-owned pieces cost a few thousand dollars less. This price range is also home to the Rolex Daytona Chocolate (ref. 11615LN), which comes with a chocolate brown dial.

A highlight within the Rolex Daytona collection is the platinum reference 116506 with an ice blue dial and chestnut brown Cerachrom bezel. Prices for new examples sit around 83,000 USD. You can find pre-owned models for 78,500 USD.

Another exquisite model is the Rolex Rainbow ref. 116595RBOW. This limited-edition gold timepiece premiered in 2018 and is an extremely rare sight on the market. Its main feature is the rainbow of baguette-cut sapphires that adorn its bezel and dial. If that wasn't enough, Rolex also decorates the case with brilliant-cut diamonds. New, the Rolex Rainbow requires an investment of some 325,000 USD.

How much does a rare Pre-Daytona cost?

So-called "Pre-Daytona" vintage watches are highly coveted among collectors and are quite difficult to find. This is because these timepieces were produced before 1963 and only in relatively limited numbers. Even though Rolex first trademarked the name "Cosmograph" in the early 1950s, only the word "Chronograph" appears on the dials of Pre-Daytonas.

However, these watches never became a real hit since other manufacturers had already made a name producing chronographs, including Heuer. Moreover, in a rare move, Rolex opted to go with a caliber from a third party instead of their own. Gold editions with the reference number 6234 can cost up to 120,000 USD. Prices for the stainless steel versions fall between 35,500 and 83,000 USD.