The Rolex Daytona isn’t the iconic Swiss watchmaker’s best-selling timepiece. But in terms of desirability, star power, and media attention, it is truly second to none, with a waiting list that runs to several years even as retail prices keep increasing. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Daytona is quite simply the coolest watch in the world. From Paul Newman to David Beckham, Roger Federer and everyone in between, the Daytona has graced the wrists of the famous and the accomplished ever since its official debut in 1963.
“You might think that at some point Daytona fatigue would set in, especially with the proliferation of limited edition models adding to the presence of the stock pieces that are already wildly popular,” says Paul Altieri, founder and CEO of Bob’s Watches, where Daytona sales are up 11% year over year. “Well we feel pretty confident that it is never going to happen. The popularity of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut and its ilk might wax and wane, but Daytonas are forever.”
Just take a look at the A-listers who have been seen wearing one in recent weeks and you can easily recognize that the Daytona’s appeal is stronger than ever. And as we’ve recounted in the past, the coolest modern Daytona of them all, the “Le Mans”, is still the hottest of hot tickets—and it’s not even available to the public. Leo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe are just the two latest celebs to turn up wearing one. Leo’s white-gold version just turned up on his wrist at the Golden Globes.
Crowe meanwhile wore his new yelllow-gold Le Mans at the Los Angeles premiere of his latest film “Nuremberg,” where he was spotted showing it off to co-star Rami Malek on the red carpet. While Malek opted for a rose gold Cartier Tank Louis for the evening—he’s a dedicated Cartier fan, and it suits his refined style perfectly—all eyes were on Crowe’s exceptional Daytona.
Soccer legend Lionel Messi also joined the “Le Mans” club, wearing the same coveted Daytona model during his recent contract re-signing with Inter Miami through 2028. Meanwhile, hip-hop mogul Jay-Z elevated the game entirely during a high-profile visit to the National Museum of Qatar. The rapper and entrepreneur wore an extraordinarily rare Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 “Tiffany & Co.” Paul Newman—a vintage piece that collectors would kill for.
The “Paul Newman” directly inspired the “Le Mans,” so as usual Jay-Z one-upped everyone. Not to mention the fact that the Tiffany co-branded dial makes this particular Daytona one of the most valuable and elusive watches in existence. Not to be outdone Drake took things to a new level during a recent concert appearance in Canada where the rapper stacked not one but two gold Rolexes on his right wrist simultaneously.
The first was a gem-encrusted Daytona 126538TBR, first released in 2024, featuring an 18-karat yellow-gold case, diamond markers, contrasting counters, a diamond-set bezel and lugs, and a black Oysterflex strap. The second was a Sky-Dweller 336938 with a 42mm yellow-gold case and a bright black dial and matching gold Oyster bracelet. Only Drake could pull off wearing two high-dollar Rollies on the same wrist.
Rapper Fat Joe rounded out the celebrity Rolex showcase at ComplexCon, where he sported the extremely rare Daytona “Giraffe” 126555TBR. This coveted off-catalog timepiece gets its nickname from its distinctive spotted pattern and remains one of the most difficult Rolex models to acquire, though not everyone is a fan. It’s exotic looks make it the successor to the equally controversial “Eye of the Tiger” Daytona, and features a bezel set with 36 trapeze-cut diamonds.
“Whether vintage or modern, iced-out or understated, the Daytona obviously remains the ne plus ultra,” Altieri says. “In a world obsessed with the next big thing the Daytona remains the ultimate power move.”
