Some models of a particular product transcend popularity to become iconic in stature around the world. How these models obtain this distinction is quite elusive and defies conventional wisdom or even classification. Some achieve it through infamy, others through serendipity, and occasionally scarcity is the deciding factor. Some examples of this include the 1952 Vincent Black Lightning motorcycle, Chanel No. 5 perfume, and Fender Stratocaster electric guitars.

When Rolex watches are discussed, passions are ignited and people ardently profess their preferences for Submariners, Yachtmasters, and the President models. However, one Rolex stands out from them all: The Rolex Daytona Sport Model. The superb functionality of a Daytona is fairly easy to quantify, but determining why the Rolex Daytona is so popular and fashionable depends on a wide range of factors that are as unique as those who choose to wear one. Here are some thoughts as to why the Daytona Rolex Sport Model is hugely popular, fashionable, and functional:

1. The Paul Newman Factor - It must be stated that Paul Newman has never publicly endorsed the Rolex Daytona, and Rolex has never officially used Mr. Newman's name in any literature for this or any other Rolex model. Nevertheless, Mr. Newman's name has been associated with the model for almost 40 years, and to all but the most discerning collector, the mention of one is immediately followed by the other. The reasons for this eponymy vary.

Some say that Mr. Newman wore this model while appearing in an Indy racing car movie called 'Winning' in 1969. Others say he wore it on promotional posters and Italian magazine covers at the time. These days, it is widely believed that the appellation can be attributed to collectors who used Mr. Newman's name to identify a Daytona with a specific type of dial. The only certainty in all this is that Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward, did give him a Rolex Daytona at the start of his racing career in 1972 and he has been seen wearing it since that time.

2. The Initial Scarcity of the Model - The Rolex Daytona was introduced in 1961 in a very limited production run inspired by their sponsorship of the Daytona 24-hour auto race in Daytona Beach, Florida. The need for a wristwatch with a built-in stopwatch for time trials dovetailed very nicely with Rolex's need for a new marketing strategy, and thus a legend was born. However, the model didn't take off in popularity until it became a must-have for Italian watch collectors in the early to mid 1980s. Other collectors noted the trend, and it became a sellers? market where few prices were deemed too astronomical for authentic 'Paul Newman' Daytonas.

3. Style - Style is very much in the eye of the beholder, but the clean simplicity, distinctive triple sub-dials, and bold, masculine design of the Daytona are inarguably part of the model's enduring allure and popularity. The adjustable bezel features logical graduations for tracking units per hour and the dial comes in a variety of striking configurations including the true Paul Newman model with an exotic cream-colored dial with black registers.

4. Functionality - Above all other considerations, it was the need for functionality that inspired designers to introduce the Rolex Daytona. Of course, it had to be pleasing to the eye, but the Rolex name epitomizes practicality and the need for form to follow function. In addition to the accurate stopwatch capabilities, the Daytona also introduced features like the screw-down pushers and crowns to ensure that a measurement was not accidentally reset by an inadvertent bump. Other innovations included pushers that were waterproofed with rubber o-rings and waterproofing was increased to a depth of 100 meters.

Although Rolex introduced new Daytona models in 1991 and 2000, these Rolexes continue to be highly prized by collectors and other Rolex aficionados for the reasons listed above and probably many more. Which of these attributes is most important depends largely on the owner and their motivations for wanting one, but if there is one constant thread that connects them all, it would be the pride of wearing a Rolex and the joy of owning a legendary Rolex Daytona.