Rolex Daytona
+173 % above RRP
📱 Track this reference's market value on the go with the watch value app — daily median, price alerts and a watchlist.
ℹ️ 1-month trend
Price change over the past 30 days. Shows the short-term market movement — relevant if you want to buy or sell soon.
ℹ️ 4-month trend
The central metric behind the momentum score. It filters out short-term swings and shows the true, medium-term market trend of this reference.
ℹ️ Volatility
Annualised price fluctuation. Below 10 % = very stable, 10–20 % = normal, above 20 % = volatile. With high volatility the price can change quickly — in both directions. Be cautious about buying without checking the current price.
ℹ️ Momentum score
ChronoCheck's own indicator from 0 to 100, calculated from the 4-month trend, volatility and market direction.
- Above 60 — Upward trend. Good time to sell, prices are rising.
- 40 – 60 — Neutral. Stable price level, no pressure to act.
- Below 40 — Downward trend. Wait or enter at a good price.
ℹ️ Investment Grade A/B/C/D
ChronoCheck's own rating for each reference. A 0–100 point scale, made up of four weighted components:
- Momentum (40 pts) — trend strength from the momentum score.
- Liquidity (25 pts) — number of active live listings.
- Stability (20 pts) — inverse volatility — the calmer, the better.
- Source robustness (15 pts) — number of independent market sources.
- A · 75+ Trend is right, liquidity good, data broad.
- B · 55–74 Solid, but one component weaker.
- C · 35–54 Average, volatility or market breadth weigh on it.
- D · below 35 Downward or too little data — a collector's piece.
Not investment advice. Pure data analysis from aggregated market sources.
The current market value of the Rolex Daytona (Ref. 16518) is $28,469. Last sold at auction: $23,600 (Sotheby's, 06/2026).
What if you had bought back then …
What would a purchase at the median market price back then have become — at today's level of $28,469. A pure return calculation, excluding insurance, servicing and transaction costs.
Data from an aggregated median time series (watch_market_daily). CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate, normalized to 365 days. Not an investment recommendation.
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Technical data
Lift angle 52° — important for timing-machine diagnosis: with this value a watchmaker can correctly measure rate deviation, amplitude and beat error. ChronoCheck verifies such technical details directly from the manufacturers' factory specifications.
Rolex Ref. 16518 — Variants and collector names
Known as: Zenith Daytona, Gold Daytona Zenith, Racing Dial Gold, Le Roi Soleil (VCA-signed example), Inverted 6 Gold, Panda Gold
Production phases and changes
- 1992: Market introduction of Ref. 16518 as the yellow gold leather variant of the Zenith Daytona
- 1992: Introduction of the Racing Dial with applied Arabic numerals
- 1996: Correction of the mirrored subdial 6 (Inverted 6 → standard 6)
- 1998: Switch from Tritium (T Swiss Made T) to Luminova (Swiss Made)
- 2000: Discontinuation of Ref. 16518, succeeded by Ref. 116518 with Cal. 4130
Movement variants
- 4030 (1992–2000) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- YG Tachymeter Bezel 16518 "Gold Tachymeter Fat Font"
Dial variants
- Black Panda Gold – Inverted 6 — T Swiss Made T – Inverted 6
- Champagne Dial Gold — T Swiss Made T
- Diamond Dial Gold — Swiss Made
- MOP Dial Gold — Swiss Made
- Le Roi Soleil / VCA Dial
- Panda Gold – Luminova — Swiss Made
- Panda Gold – Inverted 6 — ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / COSMOGRAPH / DAYTONA / T Swiss Made T – Inverted 6 in the subdial
- Panda Gold – Tritium — ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / COSMOGRAPH / DAYTONA / T Swiss Made T – standard subdial
Crystal variants
- Saphirglas mit Cyclops
Bracelet variants
- Lederarmband mit Goldschließe Ref. Lederband
Serial numbers
- N000001 – N999999 (1991–1991) — N-series ca. Q3/Q4 1991. Earliest known examples of Ref. 16518. Inverted 6 dials expected.
- C000001 – C999999 (1992–1992) — C-series ca. Q1 1992.
- S000001 – S999999 (1993–1994) — S-series 1993–1994. Potential Patrizzi-style subdial oxidation possible (analogous to 16520).
- W000001 – W999999 (1995–1995) — W-series 1995–1996. Example: W-series ~1995 with brown croc strap documented.
- T000001 – T999999 (1996–1997) — T-series 1996–1997.
- U000001 – U999999 (1997–1998) — U-series 1997–1998. Tritium → Luminova transition around U932144.
- A000001 – A999999 (1998–1999) — A-series 1998–1999. Original Luminova dials, no service replacement.
- P000001 – P999999 (1999–2000) — P-series ca. 2000. Last serial numbers of Ref. 16518 before succession by Ref. 116518.
Brand profile: Rolex
Rolex is the most counterfeited watch brand in the world. Super-clones (VSF, ARF, Clean — the latter inactive since the 07/2025 raid, with only old stock still circulating) reach 95%+ similarity. Authenticity can almost always only be identified through micro-details and caliber behavior.
- Case back: ALWAYS solid and closed — any display window means it's definitely fake (exception: vintage Ref. 6085 only)
- Minute hand length: genuine Rolex minute hands end EXACTLY at the minute chapter ring. 1 mm too long = fake. The strongest VSF tell.
- Seconds hand: smooth sweep without any hesitation — the slightest tick-tock motion means it's fake
- Cyclops lens (on Date models): must magnify exactly 2.5×, with the date filling almost the entire window
Serial number format: Since 2010, a random alphanumeric combination (e.g. 'G3M9K721'). 2000-2010: a letter plus 6-7 digits. Serial number engraved on the rehaut at 6 o'clock (from ~2005). Older models: between the lug shoulders at 6 o'clock on the case.
Further sources
Buying guide: Rolex Daytona
Market situation and price range
At $28,469 the Daytona sits in a segment where first owners sell regularly — clean pieces with box and papers are not uncommon. The jump from "good" to "very good" usually costs 1,000 to 2,000 euros more at purchase. You get that premium back on resale if the condition is preserved.
What to look out for when buying?
- Authenticity: The serial number and reference on the case must match the papers. A professional authenticity check of the Rolex Daytona reliably rules out counterfeits.
- Condition: Check scratches on the case and bezel — professional refurbishment can leave traces.
- Service history: A documented service by the manufacturer or a certified watchmaker increases the value.
- Scope of delivery: Box, papers and warranty card make a noticeable price difference on the Daytona.
- Independent certification: The CPS-52 standard covers 52 checkpoints — from the serial number and the timing machine to water resistance. The result is secured on the blockchain and can be verified at any time.
Check the market value live now
Interactive price analysis with momentum indicator and buy/sell signal.
Go to the market value tool →Auction results Rolex Daytona 16518
Recent hammer prices for this reference from international auction houses:
| Price | House | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $23,600 | Sotheby's | 06/2026 |
| $30,542 | Sotheby's | 06/2026 |
| $21,691 | Bonhams | 06/2026 |
| $23,697 | Sotheby's | 10/2025 |
| $24,793 | Sotheby's | 07/2025 |