Why Stephen Graham’s Rolex Daytona Stole the Show at the Emmys
The 2025 Emmy Awards marked a milestone for television. Stephen Graham’s Adolescence collected six awards, including one for 15-year-old Owen Cooper, who became the youngest Emmy winner in history. Graham himself achieved a career highlight, receiving the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Surrounded by cast members and family at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, his success was met with widespread celebration. For enthusiasts of fine watchmaking, attention was also drawn to the timepiece he wore while accepting his award.
The Daytona on Graham’s Wrist
On his wrist was the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116520. Introduced in 2000, it was the first Daytona to feature Rolex’s fully in-house calibre 4130. This movement became a benchmark for reliability and functionality, offering a 72-hour power reserve, reduced number of components for improved efficiency, and exceptional resistance to shocks and magnetism. The polished steel bezel and balanced subdial arrangement give the watch its distinctive appearance, while its versatility makes it equally suited to formal events and everyday wear.
The 116520 remained in production until 2016, when it was succeeded by the reference 116500LN, fitted with a ceramic bezel. This transition instantly elevated the desirability of the earlier steel-bezel model, which today commands strong premiums on the secondary market. Depending on condition and provenance, examples regularly sell well above their original retail price, with waiting lists and demand remaining consistently high.
A Cultural and Collectors’ Icon
The Daytona occupies a unique place in Rolex’s history. First introduced in 1963 and named after the Daytona International Speedway, it was designed as a tool for professional racing drivers. The tachymeter scale allowed for average speed measurement, while the robust Oyster case ensured durability.
The model’s legendary status was secured through its association with actor and racing driver Paul Newman, whose own exotic-dial Daytona became one of the most coveted watches in history. When his personal piece was sold at auction in 2017 for £13.5 million, it became a symbol of the watch’s cultural power as much as its mechanical excellence. Since then, the Daytona has consistently been one of the hardest Rolex models to acquire at retail.
Stephen Graham’s History with Chronographs
Graham’s choice of the Daytona continues a pattern of interest in performance-oriented chronographs. Early in his career, he was photographed wearing a Breitling Chrono Cockpit during press activities for This Is England in 2006. That watch, part of Breitling’s aviation-inspired collection, signalled an appreciation for precision instruments with strong technical identities. The step from Breitling to Rolex illustrates a progression towards one of the most celebrated chronographs ever produced.
The Market Perspective
From a collector’s viewpoint, the 116520 is considered a modern classic. It represents the transition of the Daytona into Rolex’s fully integrated in-house era, bridging the gap between vintage charm and contemporary performance. The watch’s discontinuation has only added to its allure, with demand far outstripping supply.
In today’s market, the Daytona consistently ranks among the most liquid and desirable references. For many collectors, it is the cornerstone of a serious Rolex collection, combining historical relevance with practical wearability.
