Rolex Daytona - References, Prices and Owners' Reviews

The watch I've always dreamed of... A Rolex Daytona Zenith El Primero version 6 reversed on the dial as a bonus... Tritium index that perfectly match the immaculate white dial... Thin, elegant and trendy with good racing vibes! A discreet Rolex all things considered... Many thanks to my buddies from San Mateo cars&coffee for guiding me to this choice.

Around 2006, I was asked to consult the brand's catalog to identify a watch style I would like. Not knowing much about the models, materials, or technical specifications, I had a hard time projecting myself and understanding the price. Having been well advised or influenced, I really liked the chronograph style. It was in the same vein as my previous watch. The following year would be my 20th birthday, and a beautiful, timeless gift was taking shape. The notion of investment was also present; my father knew this model already had a history, and everything indicated it would continue to do so. In 2007, the watch arrived. Dazzling in its box, shining on my wrist! I quickly put it back on its stand for fear of damaging it. For the first two or three years, I only used it for safe events: birthday meals, Christmas, and the auto show. Then came two complicated years, where it wasn't practical to have a watch. Around 2011, I started wearing it more regularly during my studies and outside of school. It's beautiful and practical in all circumstances. I noticed that no one noticed it, which suited me perfectly. It truly became my daily wearable when the battery in my previous watch died. An anecdote that really stuck with me, probably around 2015-2016, was during a party with a group of friends. During a conversation between eight people, I noticed that a person (whom I didn't know) kept their eyes fixed on my wrist. I analyzed it for a long time, finally asking him, "Do you know it? Do you want to see it?" Maybe he knew more than I did. He replied with astonished eyes, "A little, it's magnificent!" Go ahead, try it. That day, I saw eyes light up over a watch. It was beautiful. In 2019, I was able to benefit from an upgrade: getting the ceramic bezel. I knew little about this material, but since insiders told me it would be the next revolution, I had to believe them. I put it together and continued my life with it. I felt like I had a different watch, like I could appreciate it again, and differently. It seemed bigger, especially with the same dial color. At that time, I had two watches: this Daytona, used continuously for the seven months in daylight saving time, and a Tudor for the five months in winter time. Simple and effective. That year, I had a visit to the notary for a real estate project. During the final appointment, I noticed the notary holding onto my wrist. Since the documents weren't properly completed, the notary decided to cancel the signing that day and ended up exclaiming something like this at the end: "Although the sales contract isn't finalized, unfortunately, I was able to see a very beautiful watch during this meeting. I don't know how you managed to get this model!" I was surprised (and flattered) that someone could love someone else's watch so much. In 2021, I placed another internal order for the latest model, just to "reserve the space." Later, the time would come to decide whether I would pay for it and keep it. When I received the information that it was available and that I could pick it up from the factory, I remained skeptical about the pointlessness of having two of the same model. In the height of the current speculative bubble, I made the sensible decision and declined the order. It would have been quite easy to resell it for 3x the price, but I preferred to keep the possibility of another purchase with an internal discount to myself. This gave me time to delve into the brand's catalog again and better understand the world of watchmaking to find what would suit me best to truly begin my collection. In short, a watch that has delighted me for the past few years. I recently put my steel bezel back on. We've been seeing too much ceramic on people's wrists for a few years now. I also varied it with a rubber strap for a unique configuration.

I bought this Daytona after regretting having sold my Daytona "John Mayer" (yellow gold green dial -116508) that I could not assume and wear in public, given the somewhat garish appearance and the price of the object ... It was my first gold watch and not the easiest. Having always had an unconfessed attraction to gold watches, I then decided to buy a Rolex day date 18038 36mm yellow gold from 1985 and blue dial. And there, a treat! Perfect size, an unrivaled classicism, the president bracelet with a little stretch and this blue dial "stardust" to die for. The contained size and the vintage vibes won me over. More versatile than the Daytona, I wore it all the time... until I wanted to buy a Royal Oak 15300. So I sold this Day Date to a family member who still wears it proudly. But now, 2024 is here and the desire to put a gold watch back in my collection is back. Thinking I had gotten the hang of this metal, I leaned back towards my regretted yellow gold Daytona. But this time with a dial unfairly called “Paul Newman” (or “reverse pikachu” or “racing”…). I was looking at the old, but nevertheless modern, references 116508 and 116528 until my AD, aware of my desires for a Daytona with this dial, suggested the new reference which seemed less pretty in photos. But in real life... It is also very beautiful and I say yes! That being said, it is still not the day date of 1985 and this bulkier, heavier and more flashy watch reminds me of my John Mayer that I could not assume. Despite the beauty of the object, I therefore have difficulty wearing this relatively ostentatious watch again. Having decided to wear it, I can say today that I have gotten used to it and I am fully enjoying it! Once you get over the way you might be perceived with this watch, you have the rights! Even if it is not good to wear it at all times, in all circumstances... What do I like about this watch? The luxurious and old school look of the yellow gold, mixed with the matte black dial as well as the gold and solid sub-counters that recall the old 4-digit references of the 80s. The red minute graduation, but nevertheless discreet, recalls the Paul Newman dials, I love it! On the positive side, this new reference integrates ceramic sleeves in the oyster bracelet, supposed to prevent the bracelet from distorting. Which is welcome for a watch of this price... To give you an idea, I had made a quote for the bracelet of my daydate and the verdict: €11,500 for the bracelet with a 25% reduction deducted following the trade-in of the old one. It hurts. What I like less about this watch? I miss the old Daytona cases that I found more beautiful, more elegant and better proportioned than the new ones with flattened lugs. This new reference appears “bigger” when I compare it to my 116500 steel. I think I also preferred the old dial with spiral sub-counters and small black hands and red chrono hand... But hey, I am an eternally dissatisfied Rolex who would prefer to have the aesthetics of the old ones with the manufacturing quality of the modern ones.