The Daytona and Submariner are two sporty watches from Rolex with very different styles. the Daytona is a chronograph designed to time objects in motion and takes its name from the famous Florida Turnpike. On the other hand, the Submariner is designed for diving. Today, both models can be found on the wrist for travel, the beach, the office and formal occasions. What’s the difference between these two versatile Rolex classics?
Both the Daytona and the Submariner offer something different to the wearer, but they are often compared because they are both highly coveted sports watches. The Submariner has been in production for over 65 years, while the Daytona is still a few years shy of its 60th anniversary. What other differences are there between these two models?
Although similar in size, the Daytona is slightly smaller than the Submariner. In fact, the Daytona’s case profile is closer to the shape of the Oyster than the sharp lines of the Submariner. The modern Daytona measures 40mm and is 12.4mm thick, while older models such as the Reference 6239 measure 37mm but are thicker at 14.4mm thick.
The replica Rolex Submariner measures 40mm and has a case thickness of 13mm until the 2020 update, which increases the case size to 41mm and reduces the thickness to 12.3mm.
While these two watches are close in size and thickness, they do wear slightly differently. See our side-by-side comparison of the Daytona 116500LN and the No-Date Submariner 114060 for a full comparison of sizes.
Both watches were introduced in stainless steel, and both watches were produced in precious metals. Both watches are even available as gem-set models.
The modern variant of each model has a ceramic bezel, while the older Submariner has an aluminum insert and the older steel Daytona has a steel bezel.
As for the dial color, the Submariner usually has a black dial, however, there are quite a few bezel and dial colors. This can be seen on models such as the “Hulk” with its green dial and green bezel, or even the “Smurf” with its white gold blue dial and blue bezel.
The Daytona is usually found in more understated colors. Black, white or silver dials are common, depending on the model and year of production. While Daytonas do not come in as many bright colors, different versions feature gem-set, ivory, brown, mother-of-pearl or meteorite dials. There is an all yellow gold green dial or a classic ice blue dial in platinum.
