

Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter featuring the very latest from Petrolicious. Don’t be left out—join the ranks of those who Drive Tastefully.
Already a member? Log in
We're glad you're back.
Not a member yet? Sign up
We'll get you back on track.
As the release of the new Ref. 16500LN has most definitely reminded us, there’s no racing chronograph with a following quite like that of the Rolex Daytona. A simple ceramic bezel, “Superlative Chronometer” certification, and a new dial design—the only official updates—have been met with unparalleled demand, and as a result, examples are trading for well above the retail price of the watch. In both black and white, the new watch bears a striking resemblance to vintage references like the Valjoux-powered 6263. What’s comparable on the used market?
Price: $70,000
View
Although I absolutely love a clean Ref. 6263 Daytona, there are definitely more interesting options in the vintage Daytona market if you’re looking for something truly unique. Like this: a Ref. 6262 with tropical subdials, currently available for sale from Alessandro Ciani. This transitional reference featured the updated Valjoux Cal. 727 movement, and after years of UV exposure, its chronograph subdials have turned from black to an even, “tropical” shade of chocolate brown. One hell of a Daytona, if I do say so myself.
Price: $3,250
View
At the height of Jim Clark’s success in motorsport, he could often be seen wearing a Gallet Multichron on his wrist whilst speeding around the track. While Clark wore an example with a black dial, pieces featuring the white dial have their own charm, and offer an entirely different look.
Miami’s Menta Watches has a white dial Multichron 12H (The H designation in the 12H’s name stands for high precision) for sale at the moment, and aside from a bit of lost luminous compound, this is an incredibly well preserved, minty looking piece. Over just a nine year span, these watches were produced to be used in scientific applications, aviation, military use, and auto racing,
Heuer’s Camaro is an interesting watch in that it’s one of the few, if not the only Swiss watches named after an American muscle car. In an interview, Jack Heuer once mentioned that the watch was named after the Chevrolet of the same name because the brand was looking to strengthen their position in the American market.
Of all the variants of the Camaro produced by Heuer, this black dial example from Casowatches is most likely the one you’d want, or is at least one of the more desirable configurations of the watch. With the rarer three subdial layout and a thick, well defined case, this one seems to check all the boxes and then some.
I’ve been playing catch up with my readings of the “watch” portion of the PETROLICIOUS program and find the two go together very nicely. In my humblest of opinions there is something very special about driving a great car and having a great looking watch going along for the ride. Call me old fashioned or looking for nostalgia but seeing old photos of great drivers with a pair of string back gloves, blackened oil soaked faces and invariably a strong wrist with a watch strapped to it is just “right” for the times. Times I liked. In my efforts to mimic those years I bought a great car and a stunning BRM watch to go with it. Just got the string-backs for Christmas too!