The undisputed hero of Rolex sports watches is the Daytona, the beautiful chronograph that has provided the Swiss brand with its tangible link to motorsports since the early-1960s. Most famously favored by legendary actor-turned-serious-racer, Paul Newman, the mythos that surrounds the Daytona is a constant part of the conversation in watch collecting circles and the wrist presence any Daytona provides is simply unmistakable and irreplaceable once you’ve experienced it.

Rolex Daytonas are still awarded to the race winners of the 24 Hours of Daytona, but these watches have transcended their link to racing and their utility as a chronograph to be seen as one of the coolest high end wristwatches you can buy. The Daytona has been through many, many changes over its years of production, and while some early and exotic Daytona Cosmograph references have become the most collectible and sought after vintage Rolexes ever made, the beloved chronograph’s modern era has also produced some of the coolest watches in Rolex history – including the “G-serial” watches like this reference 116520, which was made circa 2012.
This reference of Daytona featured the very first in-house automatic chronograph movement ever produced by Rolex, the caliber 4130, which infused the Daytona with even more of the Crown’s manufacturing brilliance and springboarded off of the success of its immediate predecessor, which were powered by the caliber 4030 movement that was produced for Rolex under contract by Zenith. This example is in fantastic condition and is an ideal way to experience what many consider to be Rolex’s best.