What's All The Fuss About?

As far as supply and demand, there is no one in the watch industry today that controls it better than Rolex. Almost every professional Sport model they make is a shortage item and the reason The Rolex Stainless Steel Daytona. This watch set the example for every other watch brand in the last 30 years to follow how creating a demand is done. Every watch collector in the world whether they collect Rolex or not has to have The Stainless Steel Daytona in their collection because it stands for The Exclusive Status Symbol that appreciates in value. The fanaticism that surrounds this which is like any extreme religion where people are willing to stand in line like communism as long as 5 years just to have the opportunity to buy the watch.

So, how is this done? Well, in 1961 Rolex made the first Daytona. This was a stainless steel chronograph which Rolex trademarked as a Cosmograph which was similar but different in that the tachometer scale was printed or engraved on the outer bezel rather than on the outer border of the dial. This became very popular amongst the car enthusiast community because of how useful the watch was in calculating average lap speed. The very first models were available in an array of different dials of which some were considered exotic which was a black dial with white register subdials or cream with black register subdials featured square markers within the registers. These exotic dials were haled as Paul Newman Dials, the reason being because Paul Newman wore one of these in the 1969 car racing movie Winning. These watches immediately became very sought after in the Italian market and only sold for around $400 and today command anywhere between $50,000 to $100,000 depending on the dial.

In the mid 80's early 90's the watch became available only with black or white dials fitted with a Zenith El Primero movement which is one of the most reliable chronograph movements in the world which fetch anywhere between twelve to fifteen thousand dollars because even though the watch was not numbered there was an extremely limited supply which has fueled the demand for the last 20 years. This movement was changed in Early 2000 with an in house manufactured movement with a better constructed bracelet and today still goes for thousands over list price. Even though I don't really wear a Rolex, owning a vintage Daytona with A Paul Newman Dial would be an absolute cream dream. With this cult icon engraved into history for over 30 years it should now totally clear up What the fuss is all about?