24 hours with the Rolex Daytona, racing’s most well-known watch

For greater than three many years, hundreds of drivers from all corners of racing have descended upon Daytona Worldwide Speedway, lured by the prospect to beat considered one of motorsport’s most grueling assessments: the Rolex 24. However standing on the highest step of the rostrum earns one of the best drivers greater than bragging rights or having their title etched in historical past. It additionally comes with essentially the most coveted, and wearable, prize in racing: the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona.

The Rolex Daytona is possibly the Swiss model’s most revered piece of wrist sweet; a five-figures (or extra) chronograph that makes watch aficionados and endurance racers alike go a bit gaga. Rolex’s historical past with Daytona — previously referred to as the 24 Hours of Daytona — truly goes again additional than the race itself. Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the World Land Velocity Report on Daytona Seaside whereas sporting a Rolex within the Nineteen Thirties. When Daytona’s speedway was constructed within the late Fifties, the Swiss watchmaker grew to become the official timekeeper of the observe. In 1963, impressed by the venue, it introduced the Daytona mannequin to market.

Flash ahead to 1992, and Rolex grew to become the endurance race’s title sponsor, awarding watches to winners. And whereas these profitable drivers have put in a wild 24 hours to earn their wrist-worn trophies, the handfuls of Rolex Daytona watches — almost half one million {dollars} value of Swiss-made standing symbols — have a busy schedule throughout race weekend, too. 

Here is one very hectic day within the lifetime of a Rolex Daytona throughout the Rolex 24 at Daytona. 

First cease: New York

For the uninitiated, there are 4 completely different courses within the Rolex 24: LMP2, GTP, GTD, and GTD Professional — and the profitable drivers of every class obtain a watch. What makes a victor’s Rolex Daytona’s way more particular than the common model is the bespoke engraving, which is dealt with by a single skilled watchmaker at Rolex’s New York workplace. The caseback of every timepiece is adorned with the Rolex 24 emblem, the phrase ‘WINNER’ and the yr.

Arriving in Florida 

The Rolex 24 trophy subsequent to a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

Photograph by: Rolex

The 2025 Rolex 24 noticed 61 groups enter the race, and every is allowed to enter a most of 5 drivers (although loads compete with solely three or 4). Consequently, Rolex brings 20 engraved watches to Daytona to account for any end in Victory Lane. With an MSRP of greater than $20,000 for every Daytona, the gathering is value almost half one million {dollars}. It’s no shock they continue to be beneath the watchful eye of safety always.

The drivers see their spoils

Scott Pruett, Rolex testimonee (the model’s time period for ambassador), together with his personal Rolex Daytona

Photograph by: Rolex

All Rolex 24 rivals attend a compulsory drivers assembly on Saturday morning earlier than the race, they usually’re greeted by a stack of Rolex’s iconic inexperienced packing containers. In 2025, Scott Pruett, who has gained the race a report 5 occasions, returned to Daytona to function a driver steward in race management. Earlier than chatting with the drivers hours earlier than the race, he proudly confirmed off a bit from his personal spectacular assortment of hard-earned Rolexes.

The Daytona will get its close-up

Rolex testimonee Tom Kristensen, proper, speaks with NBC Sports activities

Photograph by: Rolex

As soon as the race is underway, the watches head out on a mini press tour, together with an look on the NBC broadcast with nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, who’s additionally a Rolex testimonee. Viewers catch a close-up take a look at the steel-and-yellow gold Daytona, which incorporates a white dial together with a yellow gold bezel.

The Daytona was designed to be a timing instrument for endurance drivers, with chronographs — the three smaller dials on the face of the watch — for monitoring elapsed time and a tachymetric scale on the bezel to find out common pace over a given distance. As of late, nobody is utilizing their luxurious watch to assemble information, however the still-there performance connects the previous and the current in a tangible manner. 

Making ready for the massive reveal

The winners’ Rolex timepieces and champagne await the victors in Victory Lane

Photograph by: Rolex

Because the solar re-emerges over the horizon at Daytona on Sunday morning, the top of the 24-hour race attracts nearer. Behind the scenes, the watches are saved at a safe location on the speedway, the place they’re polished and ready alongside bottles of champagne, earlier than being transported to Victory Lane.

Presenting, your new Daytona

#65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3: Christopher Mies, Frederic Vervisch, Dennis Olsen and Rolex USA CEO Luca Bernasconi

Photograph by: Rolex

When the checkered flag waves, exhaustion is shortly changed by elation for the winners of the 2025 Rolex 24. One after the other, the drivers have been offered with their priceless watches by Rolex USA CEO Luca Bernasconi. Porsche Penske Motorsport took dwelling the general win with the #7 Porsche 963 within the GTP class, pushed by Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Laurens Vanthoor. 

Celebrations start instantly after the presentation

Sebastian Alvarez of Tower Motorsports places on his new Rolex timepiece

Photograph by: Rolex

Throughout all 4 courses, greater than a dozen drivers etched their names into the historical past books as winners at Daytona, becoming a member of a rarified group of race-winning Rolex homeowners. The Swiss model makes certain that each watch is wound and set to native time, so the victors can put on their trophies to have a good time (or lastly get some sleep).