If you like wearing your watch wherever you go, you should skip this article. The Daytona is only for the brave. Not only is it probably the most recognizable watch in the Rolex catalog, but it’s also one of the most iconic watches in general. On the secondary market, a significant premium over its retail price ensures that you’ll be easily identified as a target as well. Let’s take a look at what Rolex has in store for Daytona’s 60th anniversary.
Back in the early 1930s, Rolex took an interest in Daytona Beach and the speed freaks who raced there. However, when someone mentions Rolex today, most of us think of the Daytona as a watch that debuted in 1963. First, it was equipped with the Valjoux movement and later, it used the famous El Primero movement from Zenith.
So it seems fitting that Rolex is preparing some movement updates for its 60th anniversary. Starting this year, it will use Rolex’s caliber 4131. This is the first time Rolex has updated the movement in its Daytona collection since it switched to an in-house movement more than two decades ago.
It is an evolution of the existing caliber 4130 with some of the features that Rolex has introduced into its movements over the years, such as the Chronergy escapement. This modification of the classic Swiss lever escapement is more effective, thus increasing the power reserve of the modern version. In addition, Rolex has completely changed the aesthetics of the movement with new finishing touches. This brings us to the most noteworthy update of all – the exhibition-style case back.
While Rolex has also touched up some details of the case and dial, the new exhibition-style case back is the show’s star here. Yes, Rolex did mention redesigning the Oyster case and giving the dial a “new graphic balance”. But in classic Rolex fashion, these are evolutions of established elements, not revolutionary redesigns. Overall, the Daytona’s overall look has not changed much for its 60th anniversary. It still has the same dimensions and the same recognizable look. Considering how iconic the Daytona’s look is, that’s not exactly a bad thing.