Daytona WG (silver dial) vs. Audemars Piguet (Alinghi Polaris)

[Chrome Hearts]

Hi everyone, I've been put in a fortunate position to acquire either a Daytona White Gold Silver (White) Dial or a Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore (Alinghi Polaris).

I've actually contacted my AD and he has only 1 AP Royal Oak Offshore in stock. He would have to order the Daytona White Gold for me.

My dilemma is this. I feel the Daytona's band would allow me to wear it for any occasion. Whether I'm wearing jeans and sneakers or to a more formal event which would require a suit. With the Alinghi Polaris, I feel I would be able to wear it only during informal occasions since it has a rubber made band. It would look awkward paired with a suit or tux.

Both are actually around the same price with the Daytona WG being around 2 thousand more expensive. Though this difference would not factor into my decision making.

Back to the rubber made band of the Alinghi Polaris. I've seen previous ititeration of the watch (2003 City of Sails Titanium version) so I asked my dealer to switch the rubber band to stainless steel. He commented about this stating the watch would be very heavy. He recommended a leather band instead.

I was also thinking about of just getting a SS Daytona and getting a more formal watch with crocodile band (for suits and tux) like a lower end Patek or Breguet.

But as of this point, I'm clearly leaning toward only purchasing one watch:
either Daytona White Gold or Audemars Piguet Alinghi Polaris.

I currently own two Rolexes, a oyster perpetual (from the 70's, it was my dad's highschool graduation present from my grandfather which was passed on to me upon my hs graduation), and a seadweller that I received upon college graduation.

Thanks in advance for your inputs.

[JJ Irani]

Hi CH,

A big welcome to TRF. Hope you enjoy your stay here.

As for options you've mentioned....I'd go with the WG Daytona in the blink of an eye. Well, personally I hate rubber straps and the AP does nothing for me.

The other option of yours makes a lot of sense too. Go for the SS Daytona and then buy something sleek and dressy for formal wear.

Frankly, if I wear GOLD, it's gotta be YELLOW. WG looks virtually like STEEL...so I find that quite pointless.

I'd go with the SS Daytona and a nice sleek Patek on strap....the Calatrava with see through case back and auto movement.

Cheers and good luck in your final decision,

JJ

[Atl]

I love the Audemars, absolutely LOVE it!! Until I saw the Price, Are they insane? Might look at a used one though.
Not a big lover of rubber (Does any guy like wearing rubber? ), but the watch design is KILLER!! So, If I had the readies, I'd have to go with the Daytona, in WHITE gold, not yellow.
I have also heard from my neighbor that the servicing costs for his Royal Oak, will make your eyes water! Makes Rolex's servicing costs look like a watch battery change at Walmart.
On a side note, if it is the model I am thinking about, I believe that watch was the one with design input from F-1 star Juan Pablo Montoya.

[Chrome Hearts]

Thanks for your replies so far. After browsing the FAQ section of this forum, I was surprised to find that the list price for a SS Daytona is $6950.

Does anybody know what the list price for the Daytona WG is? The model number is 116509.

It seems the going rate for AD's as well as the gray market is $20,000-$25,000. I did a google search and I came up with $15,500 but I don't know if that is accurate or not.

If that is the case, it seems that I would be prudent to get the Alinghi Polaris being that there are only 2000 made and the listing price is around the price that it is selling for.

I feel as if I am getting more bang for the buck if I purchased that watch instead. I'd feel ripped off if I am paying close to $5000 over listing price.

A newbie question of mine is, are listing and retail price the same thing? I assume listing is the price that Rolex sells the watches to its AD's?

I plan on keeping my watch until I pass it on to my son in the future. So the resell value (Daytona and its high demand leading to high retail) doesn't really concern me all that much. I'm much more concerned about paying for the actual watch as opposed to the "hype" or "demand" for the watch.

I don't mean to sound anal but that is a primary concern I have right now. I really appreciate everyone chipping in with their 2 cents.

[padi56]

Agree with JJ the AP don't do anything for my taste,myself not a fan of the modern Daytona particularly in gold.And if it was gold it would have to be yellow or rose.But giving the choice AP or Daytona I would choose the Daytona,but in the TT version,and welcome to TRF.

[Mark]

AP Polaris is a smoking hot watch. Would have one over the WG Daytona in the blink of an eye. Keep in mind that with AP's you can get a hefty discount 20-30%. If you pay retail, you will be hurting. If you need info or want to talk to someone who can direct you in the right direction, drop me a PM. I can save you $$$.

[Mark]

More....

[Spencer]

WOW that's one dilema I would LOVE to have

[Mark]

Spencer, you and I have similar taste.

I own:
-LV Sub
-SS White Daytona

I want:
-Audemars Piguet Alinghi Polaris
-Audemars Piguet Rose Gold Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad
-Panerai PAM 187

[Rockrolex]

I almost agree with Padi, CH. I would opt for the WG Daytona over the AP. The AP just looks like a big hunk of steel and rubber. Your AD is probably right. If you put a SS bracelet on it, you won't be able to lift your arm unless you are into heavy duty weight training.

Unlike Padi, though, I would opt for WG rather than YG or TT. I only like TT on the DJs. The WG would go with anything - jeans to tux IMO. And if you get it from an AD you will not be paying over retail (of course, you may not pay much if anything less than retail). Tough choice to have, mate.

Let us know the final decision.

Oh, and BTW, Welcome to TRF. Glad you found your way over to our merry madhouse. Stick around and join the fun here.

[Chrome Hearts]

Thanks everyone. Rev, I actually just spoke to my AD and for the Alinghi Polaris, there won't be much of a discount from retail. It's probably going to be very minimal.

The sticking point is now this, my AD told me that the SS band for the Alinghi Polaris is going cost me an additional $1800-2000. I never knew SS band would cost that much. Does that sound right to anyone else?

I'm actually not concerned about the weight of the watch since I've seen plain Royal Oak models that are all SS or Ti or WG. Doesn't seem to add that much weight.

Does anybody know the listing price for the WG Daytona 116509?

I will be making a decision within the next two days. I really appreciate everyone that's contributed to this thread. I will update everyone on the decision that I'll make.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Chrome Hearts

Thanks everyone. Rev, I actually just spoke to my AD and for the Alinghi Polaris, there won't be much of a discount from retail. It's probably going to be very minimal.

It is a limited peice, however I might still be able to point you into a direction that may save you some money.

Look at those pictures above and tell me that it isn't simple beautiful.

Not to knock down Rolex ...hell I own two of them, BUT the AP is in a class of it's own.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Chrome Hearts

Does anybody know the listing price for the WG Daytona 116509?

I don't know the list on the WG Daytona, but on fleabay the price range for WG is running between $15K and 24K. Surpisingly, the meteorite dial is at the lower end of this range.

[Spencer]

Originally Posted by Rev

Spencer, you and I have similar taste.

I own:
-LV Sub
-SS White Daytona

I want:
-Audemars Piguet Alinghi Polaris
-Audemars Piguet Rose Gold Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad
-Panerai PAM 187

That's a good thing Rev

Hopefully my White or Black Daytona isn't too far away. Only a few more months till the wedding when I get the watch

[JJ Irani]

Hey guys,

We now have TWO 10-star generals on our forum!!

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Hey guys,

We now have TWO 10-star generals on our forum!!

And a little more brown stuff on the ole' schnozz

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by C.J.

And a little more brown stuff on the ole' schnozz

You tosser,

All the mods have been given 10-star status. So now we have the proverbial: Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians!!

[RogerF]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ROs. I guess becuase I already have a SS Daytona I would choose a AP (that could very well be my next watch)

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

You tosser,

All the mods have been given 10-star status. So now we have the proverbial: Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians!!

Here I thought it was a party hat for the bartenders

[dman]

This has nothing to do with Rolex, to me the AP is a no brainer, I love that watch that much!!

[C.J.]

I'd probably take an AP Off Shore over ALMOST any other watch out there

[mailman]

Sorry guys. I know there's alot of history there, but the AP lind does nothing for me.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by mailman

Sorry guys. I know there's alot of history there, but the AP line does nothing for me.

[dman]

Originally Posted by C.J.

I'd probably take an AP Off Shore over ALMOST any other watch out there

Make it a white dial rubber clad with both the strap and the rubber bracelet and I am in. Would sell all the other watches and just wear it.

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by dman

Make it a white dial rubber clad with both the strap and the rubber bracelet and I am in. Would sell all the other watches and just wear it.

Check out this link

I would take this in a minute, and probably never have another urge again

http://www.essentialwatches.com/list...t=&itemID=3179

[dman]

Originally Posted by C.J.

Check out this link

I would take this in a minute, and probably never have another urge again

http://www.essentialwatches.com/list...t=&itemID=3179

YEP!! That is her!! I would and have thought about doing a 3 for 1 swap/sell and getting one. I would probably leave the BASE LOGO and have those two.

Stranger things have happened.

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by dman

YEP!! That is her!! I would and have thought about doing a 3 for 1 swap/sell and getting one. I would probably leave the BASE LOGO and have those two.

Stranger things have happened.

If you can pull that one off without getting divorced, you'll be the supreme flipper