Daytona Cosmo vs. Omega Speedy...A Friendly Comparison

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Two of the icons in the chronograph world, and two of the most collected, are the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph and the Omega Speedmaster.


So, let's take a look at 'em:
Both of these fine time-pieces are Swiss Made:





But you would expect that the timepieces we seek are Swiss Made...so let's look further.

Speedy first. The Omega Speedmaster was introduced in 1957 and became an almost instant hit, popular with the fledging hot-rodders of the day who were interested in timing their road and drag racing, which the Speedy did with only minor calculations using its excellent Tachymetre bezel. Just reading the script on the dial and you knew this was a serious watch. It's classic and immediately recognizable by all true watch enthusiasts::


Speedies were fitted with the excellent Lemania movements, and the object of this discussion has the latest 1861/1863 caliber. The 1861 is a modification of the c. 861 with an additional jewel and a Delrin chrono brake, but it's roots go all the way back to the c.321 "Moon Watch" roots. Although non-COSC certified, it is capable of like performance and is manual wound:

(photo Strella)

This excellent movement beats at 21,600 BPH or about 6 beats per second:


The Speedmaster has subdials in the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions with chrono minutes at 3, chrono hours at 6, and standard seconds at the 9 o'clock position. There are many models, and the model shown is waterproof to 50 meters. It does not have a screw down crown and is non-hacking.



The Rolex Daytona Cosmograph also has great, instantly recognizable looks, and worldwide name recognition:


The Cosmograph has been around in, essentially, it's present "looks" for a few years less than the Speedy (although chronographs were made by both companies much earlier) and the Daytona name was coined for it in the '60s to capitalize on the popular auto racing of the day. The latest model we are discussing is outfitted with Rolex own in-house 4130 movement. To develop this movement Rolex registered new patents, and, starting from the ground up, built a modern movement with fewer parts and a smaller footprint than many other contemporary chronographs.

Some recent upgrades over previous movements are a ball bearing rotor, a full balance bridge as used in other rolex calibers, and their own Parachrom hairspring. You can read more about the Daytona in our Rolex Reference Section:

The Daytona is waterproof to a full 100 meters as is all the Oyster line. Rolex achieves this by using screw-down pushers to avoid their use while submerged, otherwise waterproof depths are greatly reduced:


The Cosmograph also has 3 subdials at the 3,6, and 9 o'clock positions, but Rolex has changed their configuration slightly with the standard seconds now at it's traditional 6 o'clock position, chrono minutes at 3, and chrono hours at the 9 o'clock position.


Both watches are stunning. They each have a tachymetre/tachometer bezel to estimate measured course miles or kilometers per hour. The black bezel of the Speedy is a bit easier to read in direct sunlight as it does not reflect as much:


Both watches have excellent machined and solid clasps and bracelets:


The Speedy is a bit larger at 42mm while the Cosmo stays at the traditional Rolex 40mm


Here are some clear differences:

Speedy......Balance Cock
Cosmo.......Balance Bridge

Speedy......Cam-lever chrono activation
Cosmo.......Column wheel

Speedy......Manual wind, non-COSC
Cosmo.......Automatic, COSC certified

Speedy......Non-hacking seconds
Cosmo.......Hacking seconds

So, if we don't mind comparing two outstanding watches that are similar, yet still different what can we conclude ?

I would say that the Cosmo is the ultimate "dress" watch that is right at home in the sport arena...

I would say the Speedy is the ultimate "sport" watch that is comfortable at any up-scale event.....

They both go together well:


Yet the Speedy can stand alone:


And the Cosmo too can stand alone:


Thanks for taking this little adventure with me......