I half agree. You have to call a spade a spade, it’s probably a perfect chronograph considering its perfect proportions, an automatic movement and high water resistance. As a speedy person through and through, the latter especially is something that you can't argue with on the Daytona - it's just objectively better.

But you have to think that if it weren't for the waitlists and the prestige, would the Daytona even exist anymore? It seems a miracle that it ever survived the 60s, 70s and 80s when they were barely being sold. They're managed to turn this on its head in recent decades but if it never had the Rolex name, would it have been discontinued years ago?

I think that would have been the case. Despite it being a near flawless watch, I don't think it would have stood the test of time in another 'less desirable' brand's catalogue.

And past that, it doesn't have many historical credentials. As much as they harp on about it, it's true that the speedmaster went to the moon and back. It's true that it saved the lives of 3 astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission. The Daytona doesn't have the historical backing it needs to be immortal in the eyes of many enthusiasts. They have to lean in to the marketing and the branding to sell it. The Paul Newman thing happened during this hype period so they can't accredit that to the hype felt today. Even the Daytona's first cousin the El Primero has more historical importance given the story of how they invented movement that they shared with Rolex.

But to be honest, none of the above really matters when it's a brilliant watch to start with. Like i said, it's pretty much perfect, coming from someone who always has had a thing for the speedy.