ROLEX DAYTONA 116509

COMPLETE BUYING GUIDE

Introduction to the Rolex Daytona 116509

This iconic Rolex watch is linked to the race track located in the town of Daytona in Florida.  The track became famous for breaking speed records and by 1959 it was established as the centre for car racing.  

In 1963 Rolex created the Daytona chronograph watch to enable drivers to time their laps and the brand has been associated with car racing ever since.  

A closer look at the Rolex Daytona 116509

Although the Daytona falls under the category of a tool for professional racing drivers, this reference oozes sophisticated style.  The case measures 40mm with a depth of 12.2mm, making it easy to slip under a shirt cuff. 

Both the case and the bezel are made of 18ct white gold.  A tachymetric scale is engraved into the bezel for timing speed over distance.  This reference comes with the Oyster bracelet which is adjustable up to 5mm to fit comfortably to the wrist. 

The bright blue dial is truly elegant. The three subdials that are the hallmark of a Daytona are outlined in white with a red internal circle.  The hour markers are short white batons except for the 12 position, which has the Rolex Coronet. The hour markers and hands have a Chromalight display for easy reading in low light.  The central second hand has an accuracy of ⅛ second.  

The pushers screw down tight when not in use to make the watch waterproof to 100 metres (330 feet).  The pushers are used to start and stop the chronograph and make a distinct click when they are pushed, making it easy to use and extremely reliable. 

Why is the Daytona so popular? 

When the watch first came on the market, it was considered rather utilitarian and not very elegant.  However, once Steve McQueen was photographed wearing one, the perception of it changed to incredibly cool. 

The early cool reception of the Daytona was noticed by Rolex so they limited the number they manufactured.  This just happened to make the watch vastly more sought-after and pushed up prices in the pre-owned market. 

Specifications 

40mm white gold case, bezel and Oyster bracelet.  Bright blue dial with three subdials, white gold hour markers and hands with Chromalight. The subdials show 60 seconds, 30 minutes and hours.  It has a 70 hour power reserve. 

Movement 

The calibre 4130 uses a Parachrom hairspring which protects the movement from both temperature variations and shock. 

Rolex Daytona 116509 Specifications 

Is the Rolex Daytona 116509 a good investment? 

To this day, this is one of the best investments to buy in Rolex as output is still limited and it’s extremely difficult to get hold of one - making it all the more coveted.  Waiting lists at Authorised Dealers are long, so be prepared for a long wait if you want to buy direct.  

Famously, Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona sold in 2017 for a cool $17.8 million.  While most of us can only dream of selling our Daytonas for anything like this amount, it’s still indicative of how valuable a Daytona can be. 

If you’re looking to invest in a Rolex Daytona 116509, contact Chrono Hunter for help locating the best deal.  

How to style the Daytona 116509 

Although the Daytona isn’t a “dress watch”, it has such a reputation that it can literally be worn with anything.  Although a DayDate or Datejust is often the preferred watch to wear with a smart business outfit, this Daytona is slim enough to wear under a shirt cuff, meaning it would be somewhat understated when worn with a suit. 

The 40mm case might put some women off wearing it with an evening dress - but there are exceptions.  Reference 116509 could easily be carried off because of the elegant white gold and beautiful colour of the dial. 

Jay Z, Michael Jordan and John Legend are all proud owners of the Daytona, and Elle McPherson, Sophia Vergara and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are female celebrities who have been photographed wearing the Daytona. 

Additional choices 

This watch has additional dial colour choices of Steel, Meteorite and Black, or Black set with diamond hour markers.  You can also opt for the Oysterflex bracelet if you prefer.  It also comes in Everose gold, yellow gold or platinum (with an ice blue dial), Oystersteel and gold mix, or just Oystersteel. 

Conclusion 

You might say that the Daytona is the quintessential Rolex watch that any serious collector needs to own.  It goes from day-to-day wearing to evening wear without any problem, and of course, is a reliable tool for measuring distance over time. 

The Rolex Daytona is one of the best know, most coveted and therefore, one of the best Rolex investments you can make.  If you’re interested in purchasing a Daytona contact Chrono Hunter for help from the professionals.

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