Rolex Daytona Anniversary - Eric Giroud Interview

W: What does the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph represent for you?

EG: The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is to sports watches what the Porsche 911 is to sports cars. These legendary items were both created in the same year; 1963. But there's something else common to both of them, which proves their relevance.

In the case of the Rolex Daytona, is the fact that it has been a source of inspiration for other models since its creation, but none has ever matched it. Its design is uncomplicated, clear, pure… As in the case of the Porsche 911, the evolution of the Rolex Daytona in the last fifty years has been remarkable. This teaches us the great importance of accuracy and restraint. If I had to describe this in one sentence, I would quote the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: “Less is more".

Do you own or have you ever wanted to own a Rolex Daytona?

Yes, I do own a Rolex Daytona.

According to you, why has this watch become so mythical?

We need to bear in mind that this watch never ceased to be produced. This inevitably made it evolve slowly but surely for a long time.

And maybe that same fact created a feeling of safety and confidence around it. Indeed, unlike some other models from the same period, the Daytona does not have a "vintage" version. Don't get me wrong, there are actual vintage Daytonas, given the amount of time it's been on the market, but what I mean is that it has been in the Rolex catalogue without interruption for the last fifty years.

Fifty years after its launch, how do you imagine the future evolution of this iconic model?

Well, just in the same way it has been evolving for fifty years; gently and always with respect to the original spirit of the model.