Watch Paparazzi

Pilot Niki Lauda spotted wearing Rolex

Photographed in 2006, Niki Lauda — triple Formula 1 World Champion, Lauda Air founder, and one of motorsport's most enduring figures — was seen wearing a Rolex Daytona reference 6265 in stainless steel, the variant collectors call the 'Big Red.' For a man who defined precision under pressure, the choice of watch feels entirely consistent.

The Rolex Daytona ref. 6265 was produced from approximately 1969 through to the late 1980s and sits at the apex of the manually wound Daytona family. It houses the Valjoux 727 movement — a robust, column-wheel chronograph calibre delivering 18,000 vph — beneath a 37mm stainless steel Oyster case. The 'Big Red' designation refers specifically to examples fitted with exotic dials, where the word 'DAYTONA' appears in a noticeably larger red typeface than on standard variants. That single typographic choice separates a competent chronograph from one of the most sought-after dial configurations in vintage Rolex collecting.

The 6265 holds a commanding position in the collector hierarchy for several reasons. It was produced in limited numbers relative to demand, it spans a transitional era in Rolex design, and its dial variations — including the 'Big Red,' 'Sigma' dials, and various exotic configurations — give specialists endless room to specialise. Stainless steel examples consistently outperform gold references at auction because the market correctly identifies steel as the more desirable and rarer survivor.

Lauda's relationship with precision instruments was never casual. A man who rebuilt his own career after suffering catastrophic burns at the 1976 German Grand Prix, and who later ran two commercial airlines, understood machinery at a functional level most people never approach. Wearing a chronograph built around motorsport timing on his wrist reads less as fashion statement and more as professional habit.

On the current vintage market, a stainless steel Rolex Daytona ref. 6265 with a confirmed 'Big Red' dial in honest, unpolished condition commands serious money. Examples with original tropical or exotic dials regularly clear six figures at the major auction houses, and even standard 'Big Red' configurations in good condition trade well above the $50,000 mark in the grey market. There is no official retail price — the 6265 has been out of production for decades — but its cultural and horological significance continues to appreciate.