Are we really back to this subject again? Absolutely. Especially since I noticed that this very topic can really get the dedicated enthusiast juices flowing, which was quite evident from my Forbes article here. This is a debate between the two very best chronographs ever made, and 5 very simple reason why the Daytona is technically superior to the Speedmaster. I use the word “technically” with emphasis here, because despite the fact that the Daytona is mechanically and aesthetically more modern than the current Speedmaster doesn’t mean that some people won’t prefer the Speedmaster for other reasons such as its nostalgic throw back vibe to moon exploration (which is really all it has going for it).
1. Appearance
The 126500 and 116500 Daytona is hands down the superior looking watch when compared to any modern version or vintage of the Speedmaster Moonwatch. The Daytona is sporting the eternal classic oyster bracelet with polished center links, giving it the perfect blend of sportyness and elegance. This allows the watch to be vastly more versatile than the Speedmaster.
The Speedmaster on the other hand has a busier bracelet with a five link design, and what I believe to be a cheesy looking polished double strip down the center of the bracelet. It looks like two parallel lines that go down the entire length of the bracelet – it feels out of place and it doesn’t look sporty, nor does it feel elegant.
The case, dial, and bezel of the Daytona are also more pleasing and striking to inspect close up. There is a level or luxury that can be felt just by observing it, let alone feeling the watch in hand with its balanced weight and industry leading polished sides and edges. The Daytona catches light reflections with purpose, even after its built up a nice patina of outer micro-scratches, the way the watch has been designed allows it to still shimmer and feel special.
2. Water resistance
Any version of modern Daytona has 100 meters, or 330 feet of water resistance with the assistance of anxiety reducing screw down crowns for both chronograph pushers and the main crown. The Speedmaster has a water resistance rating of 50m, or 164 feet, with no screw down crowns on the pushers.
This is one of the largest and most overt technical discrepancies between the two. Which watch would you feel more comfortable with diving into the ocean while on vacation, or jumping into a jacuzzi on a last minute invite? The answer is quite obvious with a clear win for the Daytona.
3. Build quality
The build quality on the Daytona is one notch above the Speedmaster. The difference is quite perceptible when both watches are in-hand or on wrist. The overall finish of the Daytona appears to be executed with just a little more precision. The tolerances are fractionally tighter on the bracelet links, and the end links that meet the case and lugs.
The Daytona feels like a slick modern product that has gone through many small minute adjustments over decades, while the Speedmaster is stuck in the past still offering the option of a domed hesalite crystal.
4. Movement
The current Daytona offering from Rolex is still using the caliber 4130 originally introduced back in 2000, quite a solid run for a movement, but for good reason. The 4130 has a slightly higher frequency and simultaneously boasts a larger 72 hour power reserve than the caliber 3861 used in the Speedmaster.
The vertical clutch used in the Daytona also offers a more precise tactile feel when operating the chronograph than the Speedmaster’s horizontal clutch system. This sounds like a relatively mute point, but is a perceptible difference that you can feel when running the chronographs side by side, the Daytona is crisp and butter smooth, when starting, stopping and resetting.
Lastly, and this is a big one for me and many other fans of the Daytona – it simply has an automatic movement. This is essential for a serious daily wear watch, and something that the most popular Speedmaster models lack. I really enjoy a nice hand wound movement in dressier high horology watches, or even in fun watches like my Nomos Metro Date Power Reserve, but not on a modern sports watch that’s going to see near daily use.
5. Value retention
The Daytona has been the most sought after sports watch in the world for many years now, way before the watch craze that started around 2020. The Daytona has always been a wait listed watch, a watch that required a relationship with a local authorized dealer to obtain – it was often offered to loyal clientele as a token of appreciation for their many years of business.
Consequently the value of most Daytona references increases, especially the most sought after stainless steel variants. While this is good news for those that own the watch, it makes the Daytona less accessible to your average buyer. On the other hands it makes the Daytona a heirloom piece that retains value.
The same cannot be said for 99% of Omega Speedmaster variants, the Speedmaster has never been known to retain value except for very special one off vintage variants worn by notable people. If value retention is important to you, the Daytona again wins in this category.
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