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While the Rolex Daytona and Omega Speedmaster are far from the only chronographs on the market, they are certainly among the most iconic and popular. They are also certainly the most compared chronographs on the market. Today, it's Tim's turn to compare these two next-level chronographs.

Both the Daytona and Speedmaster have been constant presences in the watch world, though their histories could not be more different — despite their similar origins. Both originally created as racing watches, their paths diverged as the Speedmaster found itself aiming for the moon, while the Daytona found a home on some of the most iconic wrists of the 21st century.

In today's comparison, Tim looks at two thoroughly modern variants on the models, the outgoing ceramic Daytona (discontinued in 2023), and the "Ed White" Speedmaster.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116500LN "Panda"
The Daytona is (and has been for several years now) the most desirable and sought-after watch on the market. Introduced at Baselworld 2016, the stainless steel, ceramic-bezeled update to the Daytona immediately had people talking. There is no denying that, over seven years later, the 116500 has held on to its magic. Even the introduction of a new model at Watches and Wonders 2023 has not quelled the desire for the outgoing model.

Originally introduced in 1963 as a racing watch, and embraced by noted drivers like Paul Newman (actually, let’s not open that particular can of worms today), the Daytona was far from an immediate success. In fact, it was only on its 1990s relaunch that people started really paying attention to the Crown’s signature chronograph. In the intervening three decades, the Daytona has gone through a number of iterations, including shifting to an in-house caliber and the introduction of ceramic bezels, but no matter what Daytona you choose, you really can’t go wrong.

Omega Speedmaster Cal. 321 "Ed White" 311.30.40.30.01.001
Introduced in 2020, the Cal. 321 “Ed White” Speedmaster brought the iconic movement of the early Speedmasters back to a steel watch, the movement having been relaunched in a platinum Speedy several months earlier. While one wins no points for guessing that this would be a tremendously popular watch, this watch is not one to be underestimated.

Coming in at 39.8mm, this CK2998-inspired Speedmaster draws inspiration from the very first Speedy worn into space. Worn on the wrist of astronaut Ed White, who would go on to tragically die in the Apollo I launchpad fire, the Speedmaster faced the immense test that is a spacewalk for the first time, proving a stalwart companion and setting the foundation for the Speedmaster’s flight qualification and continued use as an EVA watch for NASA.

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