Rolex Daytona Hulk

The highlight of the Rolex resale market is undoubtedly the Cosmograph Daytona. At Watches and Wonders last March, The Daytona welcomed a new generation and all previous generations were discontinued. While some models continue the lineage into the next generation, Others have disappeared from the collection entirely and have become true dream watches. Among them is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116508, Also known as the “Daytona Hulk, ” which I would like to introduce here.

Son Heung-min arriving at Incheon Airport wearing the Daytona Hulk

Meanwhile, In May, Son Heung-min was also spotted wearing the Daytona Hulk model in photos taken at Incheon Airport. (Due to copyright issues with the press photos, Our VIVER design team has provided an illustration instead.) I will explain in detail the background and market price of the Daytona Hulk and how it gained its current popularity.

Basic Specifications

Daytona Ref. 116508 ⓒ Timeandtidewatches

The Daytona Hulk Ref. 116508 was released at Baselworld 2016 together with the 116500LN, Also known as the Ceratona. It is equipped with the same Cal. 4130 movement as the previous generation Daytona and maintains a 40mm case size, Preserving the Daytona’s identity amid the trend of larger sports watches. Models with reference number 116508 come in various dial colors such as champagne, Black, And white, But the most famous is the green dial version.

Daytona 116508

40mm, Green, Oyster

Daytona 116500LN

40mm, Black, Oyster

Daytona 116500LN

40mm, White, Oyster

Daytona 116508

40mm, Champagne, Oyster

The reason is that it is the only model in the Daytona collection to feature Rolex’s signature green dial. The nickname “Hulk” comes from the Submariner 116610LV, Which also has a similar green hue.

ⓒ Revolutionwatch

Rolex’s signature green color varies slightly in tone and brightness for each model, Always seeking the optimal green. The sunray green dial of the Daytona is brighter and more vivid than the olive green of the Day-Date and more restrained than the bright green of the Submariner 116610LV. The red accents on the sub-dials, The DAYTONA text, And the five-minute minute indices are also delicately added.

Day-Date 40 228235

40mm, Olive green/Roman, President

Submariner Date 116610LV

40mm, Green, Oyster

The Person Who Made the Daytona Hulk Famous, John Mayer

The Daytona Hulk is a dream watch for many collectors. Why does this particular model attract so much attention among the many Daytona variations? The popularity of the Daytona Hulk began with a specific individual. That person is the famous American singer-songwriter John Mayer. Among enthusiasts, John Mayer is the most well-known celebrity watch collector, And in a 2019 interview with the online watch magazine Hodinkee, He introduced this Daytona.

Interview with John Mayer ⓒ Hodinkee

How did the Daytona Hulk, Among a collection that includes the Paul Newman and Rainbow Daytona, Capture the imagination of collectors? John Mayer said he enjoys finding “sleeper hits” and pointed out the uniqueness and rarity of the Daytona Hulk. His comment that “the real fun for collectors is acquiring a watch that many overlook because it is overshadowed by more popular models” resonated with watch enthusiasts. (*A sleeper hit refers to a work that becomes successful despite low initial expectations.)

John Mayer’s Watch Collecting Philosophy

It is important to note that it was not simply a famous celebrity showing off his watch that drew attention from enthusiasts. John Mayer is a true enthusiast with a solid philosophy about watches, Having started collecting Daytonas more than ten years before the Rolex boom. (He is even an initial investor in Hodinkee!)

ⓒ Hodinkee

What is the Market Price of the Daytona Hulk?

John Mayer’s interview touched the hearts of watch enthusiasts and elevated the Daytona Hulk’s status in the resale market. In the United States, The retail price in 2019 was $34, 650, But according to Chrono24 data, The resale price was below retail before the interview. Less than a year after the interview video was released, The price entered the mid-$40, 000 range. In early 2021, It reached $70, 000, And by the end of the year, $90, 000, With the “Daytona Hulk” price continuing to soar. In 2022, At the peak of the watch resale market boom, Some pre-owned pieces in Korea were sold at more than three times the retail price.

Price trend from April 2022 to April 2023 (unworn and pre-owned)
/ Source: VIVER Index

In March 2022, Some pre-owned pieces were priced at over 130 million KRW. Even as the market declined, Prices remained high compared to the retail price (49.59 million KRW as of 2022). The pre-owned resale price dropped to the mid-70 million KRW range at its lowest, And unworn pieces to the mid-80 million KRW range, But even after a drop of over 40% from the peak, They still maintained a significant premium over retail.

Daytona Hulk ⓒ Watchbox

Around March this year, When news of the discontinuation was announced at Watches and Wonders, Signs of a rebound began to appear. 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the Daytona, And many predicted a reference change, Which seems to have driven prices up.

After the discontinuation, The pre-owned resale price entered the low 100 million KRW range from the mid-80 million KRW range. The average price of pre-owned pieces in April rose by 20% compared to March. Since there are more pre-owned pieces in the resale market, The age and quality of the watch are expected to affect the price. Unworn pieces are now almost impossible to find.

What Will Be the Next Hit Daytona?

I am also curious about your new dream watch from the Daytona collection unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2023. The new Daytona collection, Released after 23 years with a new movement, Features the platinum
Ref. 126506. It is the first model in the Oyster Perpetual collection to feature a see-through case back. When it appears on the resale market, It is expected to command a premium comparable to the Hulk.

Daytona ⓒ SJX

Daytona 126506

40mm, Ice blue, Oyster

The new Daytona collection consists of a total of 32 models. Will there be another sleeper hit that we did not expect this time? I will close with John Mayer’s closing remarks from his Hodinkee interview video < Talking Watches 1>. 

“(Watch collecting) can be seen as excessive. But isn’t there something excessive about ambition itself?”

Talking Watches 2 With John Mayer ⓒ Hodinkee