Sell Your Rolex Watch for Top Dollar - Instant Quote

Want to Get a Great Price for Your Rolex Daytona?

Taking its name from Florida's celebrated racetrack, the Rolex Daytona is recognized today as the archetypal chronograph watch.Born in the 60s and now into its third generation, examples young and old, modern and vintage represent some of the most sought-after and valuable sports models on the preowned luxury watch market.Its mixture of sophisticated styling and engineering prowess make the Cosmograph Daytona both an indispensable tool and elegant accessory. The current lineup is extensively varied, the watch available in stainless steel, yellow, white or Everose gold, two-tone Rolesor and even the shimmering opulence of platinum.

Similarly the dial options, all with the iconic triple register layout, are the most diverse of any in Rolex’s Professional Collection. From simple black and white, through vivid green or ice blue, or the unique patterns of mother-of-pearl, there is something for every taste.If you want to sell your Rolex Cosmograph Daytona and are looking for the most transparent, up-to-date pricing, then Bob’s Watches can help. We offer the best market rates and the easiest transactions, with the fastest payments.

Read on to see how we can help.

Why Sell My Rolex Daytona With Bob's Watches?

The Rolex Daytona has been in production for nearly six decades now. During that time there have been a host of different versions released and a huge amount of variety in each. The smallest change to a dial, text position or lettering font can have a massive effect on prices for this legendary watch.

That is why it is so important to get an expert’s opinion on your particular model, to make sure it is valued properly and you get the price you deserve.

Here at Bob’s Watches, we are Rolex specialists. Our staff have more than 30-years combined experience and are dedicated to ensuring the entire transaction goes smoothly from start to finish.

In addition, with our exclusive Rolex Exchange Program, we print both the buy and sell values on our website for each Rolex watch, giving you a quick and simple way to check your model's market value. Sell your Rolex today to Bob's Watches to get the best price.

What Can Bob's Watches Offer You?

• The Best Market Rates
• Immediate Payment, Either in Cash, Check or By Wire Transfer
• Rolex-Trained Specialists
• Transparent Pricing Structure
• Fast and Efficient Service

How to Sell My Rolex Daytona With Bob’s Watches

We have made selling your Rolex Daytona through Bob’s Watches as easy and efficient as possible.

On our website you will find our Free Instant Quote Request Form—simply fill that in with the model name and reference number, upload a picture (if you have one) and you will get an immediate estimate of the price of your watch.

Alternatively, you can call on (800) 376-7430 and discuss your Daytona with our expert team.

If you are happy with the quote you receive, you just need to carefully package up your watch and we will send you a pre-paid and insured shipping label. Attach the label to the box and drop it off at your nearest FedEx collection point.

Once we receive your Daytona, one of our Rolex-trained watchmakers will record a video of their unboxing and appraisal of your watch, assessing its condition and quality to verify it matches the description.

They will then contact you, either by phone or email, to confirm the offer and find out how you would like to be paid.

As well as the best market rates, Bob’s Watches also has the fastest payment methods in the industry, through either cash, check or same-day wire transfer.

How Do I Find Which Rolex Daytona I Have?

The Rolex Daytona has been with us a long time, and within its three separate generations there are a wide assortment of styles.

That gives a very broad range of possible prices, affected by many different factors.

Age, rarity, dial type, movement and series all play a big part in the watch’s overall value, as does the type of metal it is made from. So how do you find out which model you have?

Each watch has a model/reference number, either 4, 5 or 6 digits long, which identifies its particular family and construction. You can find this number between the lugs on the top side of the case, so you will have to remove the bracelet to see it.

The chart below lists the different Rolex Daytona series, their variations and the years they were produced.

Rolex Daytona

Reference Number Production Years

How Much is My Rolex Daytona Worth?

As you can see, there are many different versions of the Rolex Daytona, some worth much more than others.In general, vintage examples from the first series are the most valuable, but the condition of the watch and whether it is 'honest’, i.e. it is completely original, have a significant bearing on the value.

The following table gives the average price range for each type.

Rolex Daytona

Current Series Approx. Preowned Price

What Can Affect the Price of My Rolex Daytona?

If you scan the above table you will see some incredible sums being paid for the first generation of the Rolex Daytona. So why is it so valuable?

As mentioned, age and rarity have a big effect. When the Daytona was first released it was a particularly poor seller for Rolex. The result was fewer being made, and especially the more expensive precious metal versions; there are thought to be only 2,000 or so of the yellow gold ref. 6263 in existence, for example. Others, like the ref. 6262, were only made for one year, and the gold variant is probably the rarest Daytona of them all (which is why it can cost well into the high six-figures to buy one).

But you will also have noticed that a single reference can have an enormous range in prices on the preowned market. What causes such a substantial difference?

As with many Rolex models, and especially vintage ones, a specific Daytona reference may have been issued with a dial or bezel which had a certain quirk, a slight change in the detailing that sets it apart from the 'standard' setup. There are a lot of these often tiny variations, each with its own nickname, and they can make a massive difference to how much the watch is worth.

We have listed a few of them below:

• Big Red: One of the most recognized Daytona dial features, Big Red describes late run models of the black and silver dial ref. 6263 and ref. 6265 references which have the 'Daytona’ signature in red above the lower sub-counter.
• Floating: 'Floating’ dials are another highly sought-after variant among vintage Rolex collectors, for their extreme rarity.It means a line of text on the dial, typically the word 'Daytona’, is sitting detached from the rest of the script at the 12 o’clock.The term also applies to newer models, such as the earliest ref. 16520 watches, where the word 'Cosmograph’ is floating.
• Double Swiss: These dials represent some of the very oldest versions of the Daytona, on the debut ref. 6239.The watch's large bezel covered the lowest part of the dial, where the word 'Swiss’ was stamped, and so Rolex was forced to reprint the dials with an additional 'Swiss’ label in order to be visible. Obviously extremely scarce, these models can be incredibly valuable.
• Oyster Split: The Oyster Split dials are similar to the 'Floating’ dials, except here the four lines of text at the 12 o’clock are separated into two groups of two. So, 'Rolex’ and 'Oyster’ sit at the top, one over the other, then there is a noticeable gap, with 'Superlative Chronometer’ and 'Officially Certified’ occupying two lines underneath.Only found on some gold Daytonas, these are among the rarest dial types of them all.
• Paul Newman: Possibly the most well-known term in vintage Rolex collecting, a Paul Newman dial (officially called an 'Exotic’ dial) is one which was made specifically for the first generation Daytona references.They came in a variety of styles, with either a light main dial with black sub-counters (Panda) or a black main dial and white counters (Reverse Panda), and often with a red minute track around the perimeter. As well as that, the numerals in the chronograph dials were also different to the regular type, given a more Art Deco feel. When they were released, they were even more unpopular than the normal range, and made up only about 1 in 20 of the Daytonas sold. However, when movie legend Paul Newman was pictured wearing his personal ref. 6239 with an exotic dial, it kickstarted an incredible surge in popularity for the style, and for the Daytona in general. Today, they are some of the most coveted examples of the watch, and Newman’s own model became the most expensive Rolex ever sold when it reached $17.8M at auction in 2018.
• Oyster Sotto: Meaning simply, 'Oyster Underneath’, the Oyster Sotto dials are sometimes found on Paul Newman Daytonas, where the word 'Oyster’ is below the word 'Cosmograph’ at the 12 o'clock.These were the very first 'Exotic’ dials printed. Those are just a sample of some of the various dial discrepancies the Daytona has had over the years, but by no means all. The ref. 16520, for instance, has five separate dial 'Marks’ alone, with further nicknames like the 'Inverted 6’ or the 'Patrizzi’. Likewise, the Daytona’s bezel has also altered over the years. The very first pieces had numerals graduated up to 300 units per hour, which dropped to 200 from 1967, then up to 400 from 1989. Some vintage references had black acrylic inserts, others were engraved right into the metal. And the actual 'Units Per Hour’ text switched positions on the bezel periodically as well, from the one o’clock to the three o’clock and back again. There is an incredible amount of information to learn which is why entrusting your Rolex Daytona to specialists is vital when it comes time to sell. Below we look at what effect some of the more major variations between models can have on price.

Rolex Daytona

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Rolex Daytona worth?

The Daytona range as a whole is extremely diverse, with models available in every type of metal Rolex uses, along with a wide variety of dials. In addition, it is a long running series with many different references, some quite plentiful on the preowned market, others incredibly rare.Because of all that, the scope in potential prices for a Rolex Daytona is vast, running from around $12,000 to over $1,000,000.Much depends on the specific watch and especially its condition. The best way to find out exactly how much your model is worth is to get a free instant quote from Bob’s Watches by simply filling out our online form.

Is the Rolex Daytona a good investment?

Although we wouldn’t recommend buying any watch merely as a prospective investment opportunity, you would struggle to find any vintage model which has performed better financially than the Rolex Daytona in recent years.Its popularity seems to keep on growing, and prices consistently increase as well. Whether that will continue is difficult to forecast, but there is no reason to think otherwise.

Where can I sell my Rolex Daytona for the best price?

As you can see from all the information and tables above, there is a lot to know about the Rolex Daytona.The vintage watch industry in general is a detail-heavy place, and two watches that look identical can have one or two distinctions which make an enormous difference to their price.Unfortunately, there are plenty of unscrupulous people out there willing to exploit those who are unaware of just how much their model is worth, and so finding an honest dealer is paramount.

Here at Bob’s Watches, we are Rolex specialists and our team has decades of combined experience between them. We have built our reputation by always paying the best possible price for any model, and we are the only preowned luxury watch broker to offer the Rolex Exchange Program.That means we list both the selling and buying price for specific Rolex watches, so you can see the approximate market value of your model before you make any commitment.

How do I sell my Rolex Daytona with Bob’s Watches?

It is quick and stress-free to sell your Rolex Daytona with Bob’s Watches.The first step is to fill in our Free Instant Quote Request Form, giving us as much information as you can about your watch (reference, year, condition, etc.) to help us make an accurate assessment.Alternatively, one of our team is always available to talk on (800) 376-7430.

If you are satisfied with the price we quote, we will send you a pre-paid and insured shipping label; you just need to carefully package up your Daytona, attach the label to the box and drop it off at your nearest FedEx collection point.Once your parcel has arrived with us, one of our Rolex-trained watchmakers will record a video of them unpacking and appraising your watch to make sure it matches the description. You will then be contacted, by phone or email, to verify the price and confirm how you would like to be paid—either cash, check or same-day wire transfer.

Does the Rolex Daytona hold its value?

There is no denying that the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is a legend in the horology world, and is always in high demand.Like its sports watch stable mates, the GMT-Master and Submariner, it has many of the elements serious collectors look for—an interesting backstory, a distinctive look, plenty of variety and a huge fan base.Historically, many Daytona references, and particularly the steel ones, have not only held their value but also increased, and the trend shows no sign of slowing down.

Can I sell my Rolex Daytona without papers?

The simple answer is, yes. However, a Rolex Daytona with papers is generally worth more than an identical one without papers.Having the original box, papers, manual, etc. makes the watch more highly sought-after by collectors, as it acts as a sort of guarantee of authenticity. While it is possible that a watch with papers could still be counterfeit, it is far less likely. The risk that the watch could be stolen is also greatly reduced.

How do I know if my Rolex Daytona is genuine?

It is an unfortunate fact of life in the preowned and vintage watch industry that counterfeits are rife. And the more popular a model is, the more likely it is to attract the attention of the forgers.There are huge numbers of fake Daytonas in circulation, some now so good they are almost impossible to tell apart from the real thing without specialist knowledge.Having your watch assessed by our highly trained experts is one of the best ways to confirm you have a genuine model.

Can I sell my Rolex Daytona if it doesn’t work?

We are always happy to look at any Rolex Daytona, whether it is running or not.Our professional watchmakers will evaluate the piece and decide whether it would be financially viable to bring it back to a working condition, and still offer the best price possible.

Can I trade-in my Rolex Daytona?

Absolutely. If you would like to discuss trading-in your Rolex Daytona, just give us a call on 1-800-494-3708.

When is the best time to sell my Rolex Daytona?

The Rolex Daytona is one of those watches that never goes out of fashion. As such, there isn’t really a bad time to sell one.Demand is always high, but especially on the run-up to Christmas or Father’s Day. But Rolex watches are often purchased as gifts to mark important personal or professional milestones, such as birthdays, graduations, retirements or promotions, so they have plenty of appeal all year round.