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powerfunk · 7 February 2019, 02:45 AM

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).

vintagetudor · 7 February 2019, 03:57 AM

great post thank you

powerfunk · 7 February 2019, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintagetudor

great post thank you

Sent from my SM-J337P using Tapatalk

05carbondrz · 7 February 2019, 12:21 PM

With the Black Dialed 500’s so sought after,I wonder how long until they switch back to giving Two Tones....LOL.

brandrea · 7 February 2019, 12:28 PM

Well done Rob. Thank you

rowdy3 · 7 February 2019, 02:33 PM

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.

powerfunk · 8 February 2019, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowdy3

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!

rowdy3 · 8 February 2019, 02:39 PM

Daytona 200

rowdy3 · 8 February 2019, 02:41 PM

12 hours of sebring
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-ma...-54558014.html

powerfunk · 9 February 2019, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowdy3

12 hours of sebring
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-ma...-54558014.html

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 Daytona®, 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 Daytona® 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.

rowdy3 · 19 February 2019, 04:44 AM

Denny Hamlin winning his daytona 500 rolex.

77T · 19 February 2019, 05:25 AM

TT White Dial - looks like same model as the Rolex24 winner’s watch.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Wiener48 · 13 May 2019, 10:25 AM

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

BigBlue1 · 15 May 2019, 01:43 AM

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.

ud101 · 7 August 2019, 05:41 PM

Pretty cool Rob.

Cyclops888 · 8 August 2019, 10:15 PM

Very nice topic!
Thanks for the pictures.

BisonHead · 8 August 2019, 10:24 PM

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.

powerfunk · 5 May 2021, 01:30 PM

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:

GTS Dean · 11 May 2021, 10:48 AM

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.

drexelhub · 30 June 2021, 06:57 PM

So cool!

Nice thread

kitbag1984 · 18 July 2021, 05:46 AM

Winning a race then getting a prize of a Daytona?

Probably easier doing this than actually getting one from an AD! ��

44x16 · 1 November 2021, 10:24 AM

Need one of these..

srboutros · 17 February 2022, 02:07 AM

Amazing...

Robf52 · 28 February 2022, 07:14 AM

Thanks for posting.

Chute · 3 March 2022, 11:15 AM

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

LGW-US · 26 April 2022, 06:00 AM

Great info.

As a new member learning a lot from all this info, thanks Rob for sharing

GMBorkovic · 17 August 2022, 07:55 AM

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.

dan993 · 22 August 2022, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMBorkovic

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

bcyk · 21 August 2022, 04:02 AM

Thanks for posting!

powerfunk · 17 July 2024, 06:00 PM

It seems 2021 Daytona winner Scott Andrews' watch was stolen so just fyi in case anyone sees this turn up:

7 February 2019, 02:45 AM	#1
powerfunk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Rob Location: Boston, MA Watch: 1530 Posts: 3,798	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).

19 February 2019, 05:25 AM	#12
77T 2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: PaulG Location: Georgia Posts: 41,784	TT White Dial - looks like same model as the Rolex24 winner’s watch. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ Does anyone really know what time it is?

15 May 2019, 01:43 AM	#14
BigBlue1 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Real Name: Webmaster Location: Space Watch: it pal ! Posts: 2,956	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. __________________ " Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford". Cindy Crawford Hypochondria is the only disease I haven't got RIP Mikey

11 May 2021, 10:48 AM	#19
GTS Dean "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NB, TX Watch: 3570.50 Posts: 1,016	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. __________________ TT OysterQuartz, SS/Black "U" Daytona, TT GMT II-C, DD OysterQuartz, Breitling Aerospace, Omega Speedmaster Pro

30 June 2021, 06:57 PM	#20
drexelhub Banned Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: USA Posts: 7	So cool! Nice thread Last edited by Tools; 1 July 2021 at 02:43 AM..

7 February 2019, 03:57 AM	#2
vintagetudor "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: united kingdom Posts: 123	great post thank you

7 February 2019, 12:21 PM	#4
05carbondrz Banned Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: USA Posts: 2,030	With the Black Dialed 500’s so sought after,I wonder how long until they switch back to giving Two Tones....LOL.

7 February 2019, 12:28 PM	#5
brandrea 2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Brian (TBone) Location: canada Watch: es make me smile Posts: 77,337	Well done Rob. Thank you

7 February 2019, 02:33 PM	#6
rowdy3 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Real Name: Oscar Location: Florida Watch: Sub Posts: 155	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.

8 February 2019, 02:39 PM	#8
rowdy3 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Real Name: Oscar Location: Florida Watch: Sub Posts: 155	Daytona 200

8 February 2019, 02:41 PM	#9
rowdy3 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Real Name: Oscar Location: Florida Watch: Sub Posts: 155	12 hours of sebring https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-ma...-54558014.html

19 February 2019, 04:44 AM	#11
rowdy3 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Real Name: Oscar Location: Florida Watch: Sub Posts: 155	Denny Hamlin winning his daytona 500 rolex.

13 May 2019, 10:25 AM	#13
Wiener48 Banned Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Vienna Posts: 1,299	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

7 August 2019, 05:41 PM	#15
ud101 Banned Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: US Posts: 145	Pretty cool Rob.

8 August 2019, 10:15 PM	#16
Cyclops888 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Europe Posts: 320	Very nice topic! Thanks for the pictures.

8 August 2019, 10:24 PM	#17
BisonHead "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: UK Watch: Sub,SD,DJ,OP Posts: 1,950	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.

5 May 2021, 01:30 PM	#18
powerfunk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Rob Location: Boston, MA Watch: 1530 Posts: 3,798	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:

18 July 2021, 05:46 AM	#21
kitbag1984 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 5	Winning a race then getting a prize of a Daytona? Probably easier doing this than actually getting one from an AD! ��

1 November 2021, 10:24 AM	#22
44x16 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Real Name: Austin Location: NYC / NJ Watch: GMT/74speedy Posts: 76	Need one of these..

17 February 2022, 02:07 AM	#23
srboutros Banned Join Date: Jun 2018 Real Name: CharlestoxOB Location: Moldova Watch: CharlestoxOB Posts: 35	Amazing...

28 February 2022, 07:14 AM	#24
Robf52 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Sunshine State Watch: lots of Rolex Posts: 4,998	Thanks for posting. __________________ 126610LV//116508 Daytona YG Black/Champagne 116655 YM40 Everose Oysterflex//126622 YM40 Blue//126600 SD43 126710BLNR//126711CHNR 126334 DJ41 Rhodium/Diamonds//126331 DJ41 TT Wimbledon 124300 OP41 Green//126334 DJ41Mint Green

3 March 2022, 11:15 AM	#25
Chute "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Real Name: Chris Location: Austin Watch: 6 digit Rolex+APRO Posts: 1,555	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

26 April 2022, 06:00 AM	#26
LGW-US "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Real Name: Jacob Location: New York Watch: Rolex Daytona Gree Posts: 31	Great info. As a new member learning a lot from all this info, thanks Rob for sharing

17 August 2022, 07:55 AM	#27
GMBorkovic "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: Deerfield Beach, Posts: 61	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.

21 August 2022, 04:02 AM	#29
bcyk "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: USA Posts: 52	Thanks for posting!

17 July 2024, 06:00 PM	#30
powerfunk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Rob Location: Boston, MA Watch: 1530 Posts: 3,798	It seems 2021 Daytona winner Scott Andrews' watch was stolen so just fyi in case anyone sees this turn up:

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