If you got into watches during the last decade or so, there’s a very good chance the Swiss made Rolex Daytona replica watches—or rather one particular Rolex Daytona—had something to do with it. For most of the first 50 years of its life, the Daytona was a respectable Swiss chronograph (the term for a timepiece with a built-in stopwatch function) among a handful of top-tier choices from brands like Omega, Zenith, Breitling, and TAG Heuer.

When Paul Newman’s Daytona sold for more than $17 million in 2017, however, it didn’t just make history as the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction, it changed the way people thought about 1:1 UK Rolex fake watches altogether. The headline-grabbing sale of Newman’s Daytona was the catalyst that transformed vintage watches from a nerdy hobby for rich dudes into accessories with serious clout.

Wait, Why Is the Rolex Daytona Such a Big Deal?

The hype around the Daytona has cooled somewhat since the giddy highs of the early ’20s, but the high quality Rolex copy watches retains its place as one of the most covetable designs from the world’s pre-eminent luxury brand, and choice models can still fetch seven figures at auction. “The Daytona is arguably the most iconic chronograph to have ever seen a wrist,” explains Geoff Hess, Global Head of Watches at Sotheby’s. “It boasts a design [that is] instantly recognized by a critical mass of collectors…but perhaps the best indicator of the iconic status of the Daytona is the frequency with which it is copied by others.”

It has not always been thus. The Rolex Daytona (full name: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona) was introduced in 1963 and—like many other so-called “tool watches”— was a sporty-yet-refined alternative to the dressy timepieces of previous decades. Initially dubbed the Cosmograph, it took on the name Daytona when Rolex became a sponsor of the 24 Hours of Daytona race (now known as the Rolex 24) held in Daytona Beach, Florida. Rolex had been making chronographs since the 1930s (these are now known among collectors as pre-Daytonas) but thanks to a combination of savvy marketing and innovative design, the Cosmograph Daytona amassed a small but loyal following among collectors and motorsports enthusiasts including, most famously, Paul Newman.

Makes Sense. How Has It Evolved in the Time Since?

According to Michael Penate, the co-founder of Two Broke Watch Snobs, the modern Daytona’s popularity is down to, “A mix of history, scarcity, and the right amount of hype.” Penate notes that the perfect replica Rolex Daytona watches UK wasn’t always the golden child of the Rolex fam, and early models sat in display cases for years (indeed, in the ‘80s, dealers would flip Paul Newman Daytonas for as little as $375.) These days, things are a bit different, to put it mildly. There is a wild assortment of Daytonas in the Rolex catalogue, from classic Oystersteel and ceramic models to unapologetically blingy versions with rainbow bezels and tiger’s eye stone dials, but you can’t just walk into a Rolex boutique and buy one. Thanks to a combination of high demand and relatively low production, your best shot of bagging a late-model Daytona—particularly if you’re after the steel version—is on the gray market, where you can expect to pay double the $16,000 sticker price.

Got It. Should I Buy One Old or New?

If a vintage Daytona tickles your fancy, you’ll have countless variations and a whole lexicon of jargon to familiarize yourself with, from early 1960s models to rare “Khanjar” dial versions given as gifts by the Sultan of Oman in the 1970s. “It’s a black hole there’s no real escape from,” says Penate. “Is it Paul Newman or non-Paul Newman? Pump pushers? Millerighe pushers? Double-Swiss-underline? Tropical dials? Every tiny detail, and the intersection of those details, can mean the difference between rare and grail-level.”

If you’re ready to take the plunge into the world of cheap fake Rolex Daytona watches, Penate advises doing your homework—and then doing it again. “If you’re eyeing a vintage piece, partnering with a trusted dealer is everything. There are only a handful of people in the world I’d truly rely on to find some of the most coveted examples,” he says. “Either way, the more you know going in, the better the journey (and the outcome) will be.” Here are a few of the models (or “references” in watch-speak) that collectors get the most excited about.

5 Daytonas Every Rolex Fiend Should Know

The Newman’s Own: Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239
The Other Newman’s Own: Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263
The Jumbo Face: Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520
The Platinum Anniversary: Rolex Daytona Ref. 116506
The John Mayer Special: Rolex Daytona Ref. 116508-0013

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239

The Swiss movements replica Rolex ref. 6239 watches, which was produced from 1963-1969, is the place where it all began, but you might know it as the one owned by Paul Newman that sold for more than $17 million in 2017. The 6239 has a 37mm case and, like most Daytona references, was produced in a bunch of variants, including stainless steel and yellow gold, and a choice of two-tone matte black, matte white, and sunburst silver dials. Naturally, the most covetable 6239s are the ones with “Paul Newman” (a.k.a. “exotic”) dials, which are identifiable by their distinctive art deco numerals and squared “lollipop” style hash marks.

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 and 6265

The 6263 and 6265 (the former with a black acrylic bezel, the latter with a steel bezel) were made continuously from 1971 through 1988, but despite being relatively bountiful they still wield plenty of clout among the top Rolex super clone watches UK Illuminati. This is partly down to them being the first models equipped with screw-down pushers (as opposed to the “pump” found on earlier models) and partly due to a bunch of subtle dial variations introduced over the 17-year run.

Foremost among these are the “pre-Sigma” (featuring the text “T Swiss T” written at the bottom of the dial), the “sigma” (featuring two Greek sigma characters on the dial), and “Big Red” (with Daytona spelled in big red letters above the lower sub-dial.) Notably, Paul Newman owned a 6263 Big Red Daytona (which, confusingly, did not have a “Paul Newman” dial) but it still managed to bring in over $5 million at auction in 2020.

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520

In 1988, Rolex ushered in a new era for the luxury Rolex Daytona replica watches and added an extra digit to the reference number to underscore the point. Some of the changes were subtle, like the switch from plexiglass to sapphire crystal, and some were major, like bumping up the case size from 37mm to 40mm. The biggest upgrade, however (and the one that gets collectors the most fired up) was the introduction of a modified Zenith El Primero automatic movement. Among the most covetable of all 16520s are the so-called “Patrizzi dial” versions, whose dials have a pronounced aging effect due to a faulty organic varnish.

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 116520

The next major chapter in the Daytona’s evolution came in 2000 when Rolex debuted its first in-house automatic chronograph movement—an occasion worthy of adding another digit to the Daytona’s reference number. Thanks to this distinction, and the fact that it’s the last steel 2025 online fake Rolex Daytona watches to include a steel bezel, the 116520 strikes an appealing balance between historic significance and broad availability. For those on the hunt for something extra special, look out for the rarer “Citrus” 116520, which stands apart thanks to its cheerful lemon yellow dial.

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 116506

If you want to make a room full of Rolex collectors envious, showing up wearing this solid platinum replica Rolex Daytona watches wholesale shop on your wrist might do it. Released in 2013 to mark the Daytona’s 50th anniversary, the ref. 116506’s combination of a chestnut-brown Cerachrom bezel (that’s the name for Rolex’s proprietary ceramic blend) and an ice blue dial make it a certified flex among watch Illuminati.

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 116508-0013

You’ve got to be both very famous and extremely deep into the world of high-end Swiss China copy Rolex watches to get a Daytona named after you (see Newman, Paul). Perhaps the only other collector to achieve this feat is John Mayer, whose love for a particular Daytona with a yellow gold case and a green dial earned the watch its eponymous nickname among enthusiasts. The 116508 was released in 2016 and discontinued in 2023, further cementing its place in Daytona history.

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 126500

As the latest steel Daytona model, the 126500 contains a bunch of subtle but notable upgrades, including—for the first time since 2000—a new movement. Released to mark the best quality Rolex Daytona replica watches‘ 60th anniversary in 2023, this model also adds slight tweaks to the dial, case thickness, and lugs.