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Old 7 February 2019, 02:45 AM   #1
powerfunk
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Daytona Winner's Watches

Since 1991, Rolex has been issuing Daytonas to the racers who win the Rolex 24 at Daytona (originally the "24 Hours of Daytona"). In 2001 they began offering Daytonas to winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as the overall championship winners for the year. This is my attempt at an analysis of the watches awarded. I've never seen anyone else assert that Daytona winners get white dials and Le Mans winners get black dials, but I strongly believe this is the case. I have found 0 examples of white Le Mans Winners, or black Daytona Winners, with provenance. Everything since 2015 is pretty much known for sure, but there isn't a ton of info about the earlier years, so feel free to let me know if I've gotten any of this wrong:

Rolex 24 at Daytona Winner (white dials): 16520 (1991-2000), 116520 (2001-2016), 116503 (2017+)

Le Mans Winner (black dials): 116520 (2001-2015), 116503 (2016), 116500 (2017+)

Rolex Sports Car Series Champion (not very much info available): Probably black dial 116520 (2001-2004ish), slate 116523 (in 2005 for sure, probably through 2015ish), and I think 116503 (2016+)


There are so many low-quality Daytona fakes with "Winner" engravings on the back that many assume they're all fake, and there's a famous story of one winning driver being told his watch was fake when he went to a jeweler to size it. But real ones do exist; they all have the year engraved, and they're all very expensive! Racing great Scott Pruett, the man with by far the most Daytona Winner's Watches, has an absurd collection of Winner's Watches.

Rolex 24 at Daytona Winner's Watches pics:


24 Hours of Le Mans Winner's Watches pics:


The only good pic I could find of a Championship Winner's Daytona (116523 awarded to Craig Stanton in 2005):


Other racing/car award watches

Rolex has also been giving out quite a few watches to other winners in the past few years, like the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Overall Winner, the Goodwood Revival Meeting Driver of the Meeting, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Overall Winner, Pebble Beach Concourse Best of Show, and the Formula One World Champion (Rolex has been been "Global Partner and Official Timepiece" of Formula One since 2013).
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Old 7 February 2019, 03:57 AM   #2
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great post thank you
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Old 7 February 2019, 07:46 AM   #3
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great post thank you


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Old 7 February 2019, 12:21 PM   #4
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With the Black Dialed 500’s so sought after,I wonder how long until they switch back to giving Two Tones....LOL.
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Old 7 February 2019, 12:28 PM   #5
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Well done Rob. Thank you
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Old 7 February 2019, 02:33 PM   #6
rowdy3
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I believe the winners of the 12 hours of sebring gets Daytona's too. The winner of the Daytona 200 gets a Daytona too. I don't know if they still do this but in the 90's and early 00's, they would give a rolex to the gatorade 125's winners and the Daytona 500. I believe those were regular Rolexes but not sure.
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Old 8 February 2019, 05:09 AM   #7
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I believe the winners of the 12 hours of sebring gets Daytona's too. The winner of the Daytona 200 gets a Daytona too. I don't know if they still do this but in the 90's and early 00's, they would give a rolex to the gatorade 125's winners and the Daytona 500. I believe those were regular Rolexes but not sure.
Interesting, I didn't know about those races. Thanks!
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Old 8 February 2019, 02:39 PM   #8
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Daytona 200
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Old 8 February 2019, 02:41 PM   #9
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12 hours of sebring
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-ma...-54558014.html
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Old 9 February 2019, 12:36 AM   #10
powerfunk
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Cool! Can't find any pics of a 12 Hours of Sebring winner caseback. It seems like they don't give them out for the Sebring anymore:
Quote:
Originally Posted by pressroom.rolex.com
Rolex proudly partners the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the three world-class endurance events that have come to form the Triple Crown of endurance racing, supported by Rolex: the Rolex 24 At Daytonaź, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Engine speed and reliability, along with driver and team stamina are magnified during these extremely challenging races, which offer a rich history and require unique concentration, mental strength and skill. The winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytonaź and the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans both receive a specially engraved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, the ultimate accolade in motor sport, revered for its legendary status, reliability and performance.
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Old 19 February 2019, 04:44 AM   #11
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Denny Hamlin winning his daytona 500 rolex.

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Old 19 February 2019, 05:25 AM   #12
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TT White Dial - looks like same model as the Rolex24 winner’s watch.


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Old 13 May 2019, 10:25 AM   #13
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Good thread, thank you. I really love the Winners Daytonas.

There is a special thread for them, please visit https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...aytona+winners
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Old 15 May 2019, 01:43 AM   #14
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I totally dismissed these all as well, assuming they were all fakes. Nice to know that they really actually handed these out. Wow. Thanks for sharing.
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Old 7 August 2019, 05:41 PM   #15
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Pretty cool Rob.
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Old 8 August 2019, 10:15 PM   #16
Cyclops888
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Very nice topic!
Thanks for the pictures.
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Old 8 August 2019, 10:24 PM   #17
BisonHead
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I read a post from a lady who's company works with the race teams. I am sure it was on here.

She has i think 2 Daytonas that were awarded to her. I am sure she mentioned if you were involved with the winning team there was an option to purchase additional watches to the ones presented free from Rolex.
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Old 5 May 2021, 01:30 PM   #18
powerfunk
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A couple corrections: Rolex's sponsorship of the Daytona 24 (and thus the Rolex Winner's Watches) began in 1992, not 1991.

Also, in 1992 the Winner's Watches were apparently two-tone. This pic is from a pretty interesting Watchonista interview with Scott Pruett:

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Old 11 May 2021, 10:48 AM   #19
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I spoke with a recent Daytona 24 class winner over the weekend. That race offers stainless Daytonas to winning driver teams of each competition class. I think he said team owners get them as well.

He has raced several times at LeMans, winning his class once. However, only the Overall Winners - usually the top Prototype class (LMP) drivers receive Daytonas.
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Old 30 June 2021, 06:57 PM   #20
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So cool!

Nice thread

Last edited by Tools; 1 July 2021 at 02:43 AM..
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Old 18 July 2021, 05:46 AM   #21
kitbag1984
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Winning a race then getting a prize of a Daytona?

Probably easier doing this than actually getting one from an AD! ��
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Old 1 November 2021, 10:24 AM   #22
44x16
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Need one of these..
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Old 17 February 2022, 02:07 AM   #23
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Amazing...
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Old 28 February 2022, 07:14 AM   #24
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Thanks for posting.
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Old 3 March 2022, 11:15 AM   #25
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Loupe this just recently sold a white Stainless 16520 from 1997.
If someone is better at adding pictures than me, that would add to the threat if that is allowed
https://cdn.sanity.io/images/j0ua8uv...ip&auto=format
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Old 26 April 2022, 06:00 AM   #26
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Great info.

As a new member learning a lot from all this info, thanks Rob for sharing
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Old 17 August 2022, 07:55 AM   #27
GMBorkovic
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Well, this seals it. At 73 Im going out and buy me a race car and win a watch.
What kind of car am I looking for? thanks.
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Old 21 August 2022, 04:02 AM   #28
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Thanks for posting!
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Old 22 August 2022, 04:10 AM   #29
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Well, this seals it. At 73 Im going out and buy me a race car and win a watch.
What kind of car am I looking for? thanks.
A fast one buddy
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