Buy Daytona in Dubai

Buying a Pre-Owned Rolex Daytona in Dubai

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was introduced in 1963 as a chronograph for racing drivers. Its tachymetric bezel measures average speeds of up to 400 units per hour, and its three-counter dial has become one of the most recognisable designs in watchmaking.

Today the Daytona is among the most sought-after watches in the world. With long waiting lists at authorised dealers, a pre-owned Daytona is often the quickest way to own one. At Ilan Watches in the Dubai Gold District, every Daytona is inspected by our specialists before it is offered, and you are welcome to view it in our showroom before you decide.

Our 4 watches in stock currently range from AED 125,000 to AED 380,000. All prices include a full inspection by our specialists.

The Rolex Daytona: Why It Was Created and What It Does

In the early 1960s, Daytona Beach in Florida was the home of motor racing in America, first with speed records on the sand and later on the Daytona International Speedway. In 1963 Rolex introduced the Cosmograph for racing drivers who needed to time laps and measure speed – and soon named it after Daytona.

The Daytona is a chronograph, a stopwatch built into the watch. Press the upper pusher and the central seconds hand starts; the counters record up to 30 minutes and 12 hours. Press it again to stop, and the lower pusher resets everything to zero. The tachymetric scale on the bezel turns elapsed time over a known distance into average speed: if a car covers one kilometre in 45 seconds, the seconds hand points to 80 on the bezel – 80 km/h.

Key Features

• Movement. Self-winding chronograph calibre 4131 (previously 4130) with about 72 hours of power reserve.
• Precision. Certified as a Superlative Chronometer by Rolex, accurate to −2/+2 seconds per day.
• Water resistance. 100 metres, with screw-down pushers.
• Bezel. Tachymetric scale, in black ceramic on the 116500LN and 126500LN.
• Bracelet. Oysterlock safety clasp with the Easylink comfort extension of about 5 mm.

Rolex Daytona References at a Glance

126500LN

Steel, ceramic bezel, calibre 4131. The current steel generation, introduced in 2023 with a refined case and dial.

116500LN

Steel, black Cerachrom ceramic bezel, calibre 4130. Produced from 2016 to 2023 and one of the most popular modern Rolex references.

116520

Steel with steel bezel. The first Daytona with the in-house calibre 4130, produced from 2000 to 2016.

116519LN / 126519LN

White gold on the Oysterflex rubber strap with a black ceramic bezel – understated precious metal.

116505 / 126505

Everose gold, Rolex's own rose gold alloy, on a matching Oyster bracelet.

116506 / 126506

Platinum with the signature ice-blue dial and a chestnut-brown ceramic bezel.

What to Check When Buying a Used Daytona

• Box, papers and warranty date. A full set with the warranty card adds value and shows the purchase date.
• Case and bracelet condition. Look for sharp case edges and a tight bracelet. Heavy polishing reduces value.
• Chronograph function. Start, stop and reset should work smoothly, and the counters should return exactly to zero.
• Bezel. Ceramic bezels are scratch-resistant but can chip if dropped.
• Service history. Service papers from Rolex or a recognised watchmaker give extra confidence.

Rolex Daytona: Frequently Asked Questions