Rolex Daytona Owner Review : Bold, radical and classic

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.