Daytona with Diamonds Zenith Movement – U Series 16528

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The Daytona story began like a love story with racecar drivers, one of the most successful drivers used to wear Rolex watches was Sir Malcom Campbell who set many speed records in Europe and in a Florida city called Daytona Beach, he attracted the attention of Rolex and became their ambassador.

In 1955 version, the Reference 6234, was labeled the “Rolex Chronograph” a pre-Daytona model.
The birth, in 1963 the Rolex Chronograph reference 6239 with a tachometer scale engrave on the bezel to enhance readability of the dial was released, incredibly the initial name Rolex used was “Le Mans”, another famous racetrack based in France.  It’s only by 1965 that the *Daytona* name started to be printed on the dial of the 6239.

Surprisingly the Daytona wasn’t a success back then, despite celebrities like Paul Newman endorsing it. Eventually the model became popular and a more modern version was released in 1988 using an automatic Zenith “El Primero” modified movement, the reference 16520 (steel), reference 16523 (in steel and gold) and reference 16528 (in yellow gold).  Main difference was the case size of 40mm, 3mm bigger than its predecessor and the adoption of a sapphire crystal to replace the Plexiglas.  The limited supply helped the watch achieve a cult status.

By 2000, Rolex started to use an in-house movement on the new 116500 series, it remained the most sought after model.
In 2013 the Daytona Cosmograph Platinum (reference 116506) created by Rolex to commemorate fifty years from the launch of its most celebrated watch.

in 2016 the steel Daytona was refreshed with a new black ceramic bezel the 116500LN series.

And finally in 2022, 3 new references were released with gorgeous meteorite dials, the reference 116519LN-0038 in white gold on Oysterflex bracelet, the reference 116508-0015 in yellow gold and the reference 116505-0014in Rose gold.

With each release, the Daytona reinforces its status of cult sport watch, certainly the most desired sports watch in the world.