The Rolex Daytona is Rolex’s motorsport chronograph, first made in 1963 and now built around the in-house calibre 4131 movement inside a 40 mm case. In Saudi Arabia, current models start at around 74,700 SAR for the Oystersteel version (reference 126500LN) and reach 375,000 SAR for platinum, sold through official Rolex retailers in Riyadh and Jeddah. This guide covers every current model, the specifications, SAR prices, investment value, and where to buy.
Few watches carry the weight of the Rolex Daytona. It began as a tool for racing drivers and became one of the most recognised objects in modern luxury. This guide keeps things clear and factual, so a first-time buyer in the Gulf and a seasoned collector both find what they need.
What Is the Rolex Daytona? History and Meaning
The Cosmograph Daytona is a mechanical chronograph, which means it can time short intervals like a stopwatch while still telling the time. Its tachymeter scale, printed on the bezel, lets the wearer read average speed over a set distance.
Rolex named it after Daytona Beach in Florida, home of American speed records, after becoming the official timekeeper of the Daytona International Speedway in 1962. The word “Cosmograph” is Rolex’s own term for its chronograph models.
The watch launched in 1963 and has passed through four generations. The first used hand wound Valjoux movements. The second, from 1988, ran a modified Zenith El Primero. The third, from 2000, introduced Rolex’s own calibre 4130.
The current generation, launched in 2023, carries the calibre 4131. One early buyer, the actor Paul Newman, wore a rare “exotic” dial version so consistently that the design now carries his name and defines the watch’s collector legend.
| Generation | Years | Movement | Reference style |
| First | 1963 to 1988 | Manual Valjoux 72 / 722 / 727 | 6239, 6240, 6241, 6263, 6265 |
| Second | 1988 to 2000 | Zenith El Primero, calibre 4030 | 16518, 16520, 16523 |
| Third | 2000 to 2023 | In-house calibre 4130 | 116500LN, 116503, 116520 |
| Fourth | 2023 to now | In-house calibre 4131 (Le Mans 4132) | 126500LN, 126506, 126518LN |
Rolex Daytona Price in Saudi Arabia (SAR)
Rolex Daytona prices in Saudi Arabia range from around 74,700 SAR for the Oystersteel model to 375,000 SAR for the platinum reference, with the diamond set white gold model at 356,600 SAR.
These are suggested retail prices from an authorised dealer, and they include VAT. The most affordable current model is the steel reference 126500LN. The most expensive sit at the top of the collection: the platinum 126506 and the diamond set white gold pieces.
| Model | Reference | Material | Dial | Bracelet | Price (SAR, incl. VAT) |
| Oystersteel | 126500LN | Oystersteel | White or black | Oyster | 74,700 SAR |
| Steel and yellow gold | 126503-0001 | Oystersteel and yellow gold | Various | Oyster | 108,800 SAR |
| Yellow gold | 126518LN-0004 | 18ct yellow gold | Turquoise or other | Oysterflex | 189,100 SAR |
| Yellow gold | 126508-0008 | 18ct yellow gold | Various | Oyster | 245,200 SAR |
| Everose gold | 126505-0005 | 18ct Everose | Chocolate | Oysterflex | 262,200 SAR |
| Everose gold | 126515LN-0006 | 18ct Everose | Various | Oysterflex | 199,100 SAR |
| White gold | 126509-0001 | 18ct white gold | Various | Oyster | 262,200 SAR |
| White gold and diamonds | 126589RBR-0001 | White gold with diamonds | Various | Oysterflex | 356,600 SAR |
| Platinum | 126506-0001 | 950 platinum | Ice-blue | Oyster | 375,000 SAR |
Prices: Saddik & Mohamed Attar, official Rolex retailer in KSA, suggested retail including VAT, as listed July 2026. Confirm current pricing with the dealer before purchase.
Two points help set expectations. First, retail and secondary market prices are not the same. A pre-owned Daytona can sell above retail for the models people want most, and below retail for others, depending on demand at the time. Second, retail supply is limited, so the listed price and actual availability often differ at the counter.
Rolex Daytona Models: The Current 2026 Lineup
The current Rolex Daytona lineup covers three material families: steel, gold, and platinum. Each shares the same 40 mm case and calibre 4131, so the choice comes down to material, dial, and bracelet. You can compare every reference and its SAR price in the table above.
Steel Daytona (Oystersteel)
The steel Daytona, reference 126500LN, is the entry point and the everyday choice. It comes with a white or black dial and a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel.
The black dial version is the one many buyers picture first, often called the “Daytona black.” The case is made from Oystersteel, a 904L grade steel that resists corrosion and holds a clean polish. The hour markers use 18ct gold with Chromalight for low light legibility.
Gold Daytona (yellow, Everose, white)
The gold models add warmth and presence. Rolex offers the Daytona in yellow gold (126518LN and 126508), white gold (126509), and Everose, which is Rolex’s own rose gold alloy that keeps its colour over time.
The Everose 126505 with its chocolate brown dial is a favourite among the daytona rose gold options. The gold versions with a Cerachrom bezel come on the Oysterflex bracelet, which pairs a metal core with a hard wearing elastomer coating for a sportier feel.
Platinum Daytona
The platinum Daytona, reference 126506, sits at the top of the range. It is recognised by its ice-blue dial and maroon Cerachrom bezel, colours Rolex reserves for platinum.
Alone in the collection, this platinum Daytona has a transparent sapphire case back, so the calibre 4131 is visible on the wrist. It is the collector’s grail of the current line.
Among the coloured dials, the panda layout draws its own following. Read our detailed guide to the Rolex Daytona panda dial for that story.
Which Rolex Daytona Should You Buy?
The best Rolex Daytona for most buyers is the steel 126500LN. It is the most versatile, the most recognised, and the anchor of the collection. Your ideal choice then depends on why you are buying.
- Best all rounder and first Daytona: steel 126500LN, comfortable in a boardroom in Riyadh or on the weekend.
- Best value entry: the two-tone steel and yellow gold 126503, which adds gold without the full gold price.
- Statement piece: any gold model, or the platinum 126506 for the quiet flex that collectors notice.
- Hardest to get: steel and platinum stay in demand, and off catalogue pieces such as the yellow gold Le Mans 126529LN with its calibre 4132 are rarely on display.
Steel suits daily wear and easier resale. Gold and platinum reward those who want rarity and presence and are less concerned with the waiting list.
Read More: Rolex Prices in Saudi Arabia 2026
Rolex Daytona Specs and Design
Yes, the current Rolex Daytona is a 40 mm watch. Every model in the present lineup shares that case size. Vintage examples measured about 37 mm, before the case grew to 40 mm with the second generation. The rest of the specification is consistent across the range, with only the case material changing.
| Spec | Detail |
| Case size | 40 mm |
| Case thickness | About 11 to 12 mm |
| Materials | Oystersteel, 18ct gold, or 950 platinum |
| Bezel | Cerachrom ceramic with tachymeter scale |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Movement | Calibre 4131, self-winding |
| Power reserve | About 72 hours |
| Water resistance | 100 metres (330 feet) |
| Bracelet | Oyster or Oysterflex |
| Certification | Superlative Chronometer (COSC plus Rolex testing) |
The Daytona does not use a battery. It is a self-winding, or automatic, mechanical watch, so movement of the wrist keeps it running, with about 72 hours of reserve when set down.
Weight varies by material, with steel lighter than gold or platinum, since gold and platinum are denser metals. On the bracelet, the classic Oyster is all metal, while the Oysterflex feels softer and more athletic on the wrist.
Is the Rolex Daytona a Good Investment?
The Rolex Daytona has one of the strongest resale records of any modern watch, and steel and platinum models tend to hold value best.
Demand has long outrun the limited supply, which supports prices and keeps waiting lists long. Pre-owned examples of the most wanted references can trade above retail, while others settle below it.
The market is not a straight line. Secondary market prices cooled from the 2022 peak, and retail pricing stays under Rolex’s control regardless of that movement.
A Daytona can be a sound store of value, yet a watch is still a personal purchase, and prices can fall as well as rise. Treat any resale figure as market context, not a promise. This is not financial advice.
How to Buy a Rolex Daytona in Saudi Arabia
To buy a new Rolex Daytona in Saudi Arabia, visit an Official Rolex Retailer. In the Kingdom, Saddik & Mohamed Attar operates authorized Rolex boutiques in Jeddah, Riyadh, Makkah, and Madinah. New Daytonas are sold only through this official network, and demand often means a waiting list.
- Register your interest with an authorised dealer and state the reference you want. Availability is managed by each boutique.
- Confirm the price in SAR. The suggested retail price includes VAT.
- Check the paperwork on collection. A genuine new Daytona comes with a five-year international guarantee, the green seal, and Superlative Chronometer certification.
- Consider pre-owned carefully. A Rolex Certified Pre-Owned or a trusted seller can shorten the wait, but authentication matters, so buy only where provenance is clear.
Buying new gives you the guarantee and peace of mind. Buying pre-owned can mean faster access, sometimes at a premium for the models in highest demand.
Read More: Top 10 Luxury Watches in Saudi Arabia (2026)
How to Spot a Fake Rolex Daytona
The safest way to guarantee a real Daytona is to buy from an authorized dealer. If you are checking a watch yourself, a few signs help.
- Weight and feel: a real Daytona has a solid, dense heft. Many fakes feel light.
- The seconds hand: the genuine automatic movement sweeps smoothly. A ticking hand suggests a battery, which the Daytona never uses.
- Engravings: serial and reference numbers between the lugs should be crisp and clean.
- Bezel and dial: the Cerachrom bezel and printing are sharp and even, with no rough edges.
- Papers: ask for the guarantee card and matching reference and serial numbers.
For a full walkthrough, see our guide on how to spot a fake Rolex Daytona.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Rolex Daytona cost in Saudi Arabia?
Current Daytona prices in SAR range from around 74,700 SAR for the Oystersteel model to 375,000 SAR for platinum, at authorized dealer retail including VAT (Saddik & Mohamed Attar, July 2026).
Which is the cheapest Rolex Daytona?
The Oystersteel reference 126500LN is the entry point of the current Daytona collection.
Is the Daytona only 40mm?
Every current Daytona is 40 mm. Vintage models measured about 37 mm.
What size and weight is a Rolex Daytona?
The case is 40 mm wide and roughly 11 to 12 mm thick. Weight depends on the material, with steel lighter than the denser gold or platinum.
Is the Rolex Daytona waterproof?
Yes. The Daytona is water resistant to 100 metres, or 330 feet.
Does the Rolex Daytona use a battery?
No. It is a self-winding mechanical chronograph powered by the in-house calibre 4131.
What is the power reserve of the Rolex Daytona?
About 72 hours on a full wind.
Is the Rolex Daytona real gold?
Gold models use solid 18ct gold in yellow, white, or Everose. Steel models use Oystersteel, and the top model uses 950 platinum.
How hard is it to buy a Rolex Daytona?
Demand and limited allocation mean waiting lists at authorized dealers, and availability changes by model..
Are Rolex Daytona prices going down?
Secondary market prices softened from the 2022 peak, while Rolex continues to set retail prices.
Why is the Rolex Daytona so expensive?
Demand far exceeds the limited supply, and the price reflects the in-house movement, the materials, and the watch’s icon status.
The Bottom Line
The Rolex Daytona remains the benchmark luxury chronograph, equal parts racing heritage and everyday icon. For buyers in Saudi Arabia, the smart path is simple: start with the SAR price and material that suit you, then go through an authorized dealer for a guaranteed, correctly papered watch.
From there, explore the individual models in our cluster guides to find the exact Daytona that fits your wrist and your intent.
