Rolex Daytona 116509 – Black Diamond Dial

Rolex was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis in London. The company originally specialized in the creation of high-quality, precision wristwatches, with the goal of making watches more reliable, durable, and accurate. In 1908, Wilsdorf registered the Rolex brand name and soon after moved the company to Geneva, Switzerland, where it has remained ever since.

Rolex is known for creating numerous pioneering innovations, such as the Oyster case (the world’s first waterproof watch case) in 1926, and the Perpetual movement (a self-winding mechanism) in 1931. These innovations, along with a commitment to exceptional craftsmanship, helped Rolex build its reputation as the premier luxury watch brand in the world.

History of the Rolex Daytona

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was introduced in 1963, designed specifically to meet the demands of professional racing drivers. Named after the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, the model was Rolex’s answer to the growing popularity of motorsports in the mid-20th century. Early references like the 6239 featured a tachymeter scale on the bezel for measuring speed and contrasting subdials for legibility—functional features that laid the groundwork for the Daytona’s tool-watch heritage.

In its early years, the Daytona was powered by a manual-wind Valjoux movement and was slow to gain popularity. However, things changed dramatically in the 1980s when collectors and enthusiasts began to appreciate the rarity and design of earlier models. This led to the rise of “Paul Newman” Daytonas, named after the actor and racing enthusiast who famously wore a reference 6239 with an exotic dial configuration. Today, these early Daytonas are among the most sought-after and expensive vintage watches in the world.

In 1988, Rolex transformed the Daytona by introducing the reference 16520, now powered by an automatic movement—the Zenith El Primero, modified and regulated in-house. This marked the beginning of the modern Daytona era. These watches featured larger cases, sapphire crystals, and a more robust build, making them incredibly popular throughout the 1990s.

The Daytona took another evolutionary leap in 2000 with the launch of the reference 116520, featuring Rolex’s first fully in-house chronograph movement, the Caliber 4130. This movement improved reliability, serviceability, and power reserve—cementing the Daytona as both a collector's item and a high-performance chronograph.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Rolex began introducing precious metal versions, including models in yellow, white, and Everose gold, along with exotic dials, ceramic bezels, and Oysterflex bracelets. White gold Daytonas, like the 116509, offered a more refined, low-key luxury appeal that made them favorites among connoisseurs.

Today, the Rolex Daytona is not just a symbol of speed and precision—it’s a cultural icon, coveted across collector circles and waitlists around the world. From the race track to the red carpet, it remains one of the most celebrated and recognizable chronographs ever made.