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ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
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#1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: Asia
Posts: 453
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Underwhelmed by the Daytona
I’ve never been a Rolex Daytona fan. Wanting to find out for myself what the hype was all about, I popped into my local grey dealer today and tried on the following modern Daytona references.
Specifically, the: 116520 black dial 116500LN black dial 116503 TT gold dial 116520 white dial 116523 TT white dial I felt thoroughly underwhelmed. The SS references in particular had a distinct lack of heft that made it feel unsubstantial on the wrist, and the black dials were hard to read. The older generation clasps without the spring loaded beak & hook system also felt cheap and tinny. Although the easy link extension had already been integrated by then. The one exception that really caught my eye was the 116523 TT white dial. Even I was surprised by how much I liked it. Bonus points because I could tell the time at a glance, and the watch had a luxurious, weighty feel to it, courtesy of the solid gold material. Aesthetically, it looked great too and asking prices for the TT 116523 white dial weren’t ridiculous, unlike the modern SS references. Guess I’ll be sticking with my yacht-master for now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#2 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Real Name: The Mystro ;)
Location: Central Pa.
Posts: 15,229
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You saved yourself a lot of money.
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#3 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2023
Real Name: Nadeem
Location: Chicago
Watch: GMT BLNR
Posts: 957
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I've only tried the TT Daytona and was unimpressed. I'm waiting to hold my final thoughts until I try a SS version in the metal.
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#4 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Real Name: A-Aron
Location: Utah
Watch: 126710BLNR
Posts: 2,045
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Although frustrating, this is why I have preferred "Exhibition only" over completely empty display cases.
It allowed me to eliminate a DJ dial color that I would have adamantly requested had I not had a chance to try it on. Daytona's are certainly not for everyone. They have a few quirks that can either endear you or repel you. Glad you had a chance to try them on. |
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#5 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: May 2011
Real Name: Kevin
Location: Tornado Alley
Posts: 3,260
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How dare you?
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#6 | |
"TRF" Life Patron
Join Date: Jun 2005
Real Name: Peter
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng
Watch: ing you.
Posts: 52,808
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Quote:
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ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder ![]() |
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#7 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 652
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I too have never understood the following of the Daytona.
It is hard to read, and the idea of screw-in pushers on a chronograph seems impractical. From a chrono perspective, the Speedmaster Moonwatch (preferably EW) or a Zenith El Primaro (mine are the triple calendar/moonphase versions) get the job done for me. Prestige/status are not as high on my priority list as others. YMMV.
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Rolex Day-Date 118208 YG/Datejust 116139 WG/GMT2 116710 BLNR SS Patek Calatrava 5096 RG - Omega Speedmaster 3861 Sapphire SS - Cartier Tank Louis 1140 YG Panerai GMT 233 SS - Zenith ChronoMaster 01.0240.410 SS - JLC Reverso Duo Q2714910 SS Laine V38 SS - Grand Seiko SGBA407 SS - Baltic Aquascaphe SS - Garmin Approach S62 TAG Heuer Formula One - Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon/Mercury/Jupiter/Neptune/Lava |
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#8 | |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: UTC/GMT -5
Posts: 3,620
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Quote:
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#9 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Pacific NW, USA
Watch: 116500LN
Posts: 686
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After buying a 116500 black dial Daytona about 6 weeks ago, I flipped it for this (and a lot of cash obviously). In a lot of ways it is much better. Readability is an order of magnitude better. It keeps better time. The case is finished between the lugs so you can actually switch straps to traditional straps. A nice bonus is the exhibition case back. It's nice to see the movement.
I found the Daytona too small, too hard to read and the screw down pushers were annoying. Also it did not fit my 7.5" (19cm) wrist and seemed to fall to one side or the other no matter how tight the bracelet. The 44mm Speedy fits on my wrist and stays planted. |
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#10 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 76,248
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They’re not for everyone.
I rank chronographs behind Dive watches and GMTs. Everyone has their preferences I guess ![]() |
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#11 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 6,593
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I go back and forth on this topic I currently own (again..) Black 116500. All the negatives are true hard to read but now I wear readers anyway... However the movement is a masterpiece. It couldn't be my one and only watch though, for sure.
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#12 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Mike
Location: Downy Ocean Hon
Watch: my money leaving!
Posts: 13,470
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#13 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Philly.
Watch: Air King, Omega AT
Posts: 2,214
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Way overrated IMO.
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Air King 116900 Omega AT41 Gray Dial/Leather Oris Pointer Date Roberto Clemente LE |
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#14 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NWA, USA
Watch: BLRO/Daytona/OP41s
Posts: 5,187
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Okay, I’ll alert the media.
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#15 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: USA
Watch: All
Posts: 5,195
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I use to be as well. Took me years to like it. In fact, back in 1994, I was offered one from the showcase at the AD and recall thinking to myself, that’s not what a Rolex looks like. Ended up with the very common DJ Rolesor with yellow dial.
Today, I love them. What caused that eludes me but one main reason is how nicely it fits on my 6.5” wrist. As I age and shrink some more, my two Daytona may end up being my only two watches.
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Rolex 228235 DD40 Olive, 126710BLRO, 116710BLNR, 116613LB, 116500LN White, 126610LN, 116500LN Black, 126610LV, 116610LV, 126334 Blue Diamond Breitling Navitimer 01, Cartier Santos Large |
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#16 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Real Name: Harry
Location: England
Posts: 10,370
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I couldn't have put it better.
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#17 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Real Name: BondJamesBond
Location: The Algarve
Watch: Rolex or nothing
Posts: 4,037
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Like the 911, everyone has one.
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♛ 5-digit Rolex or nothing ♛ |
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#18 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Depends
Posts: 322
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I love the daytona because I am primarily a chronograph collector but I don’t have the biggest wrists. There is no column wheel vertical clutch chrono at this size but at the same time has a timeless design, robust, high WR etc etc.
In saying that are they overrated? yes, they shouldn’t be and it’s highly irritating that they’re so hard to buy. They should be considered at the same level as a plain Jane sub. |
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#19 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: USA
Watch: Rolex & Tudor
Posts: 2,225
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You should check out the 116503 TT white. It's absolutely magnificent.
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The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life. |
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#20 |
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Real Name: George
Location: Cape Cod
Watch: 216570 Explorer II
Posts: 2,376
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As the old saying goes. " You pays your money and you takes your choice". In this case, no choice was made as expectations weren't met.
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#21 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: USA
Watch: 16622,BLNR,116500
Posts: 987
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I think the hype and the difficulty to get can make it anticlimactic when you finally do get one.
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#22 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Real Name: Kat
Location: CA, USA
Watch: 126233 Wimbledon T
Posts: 6,903
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#23 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2022
Real Name: Bazil Brush
Location: Star Gazing
Watch: Any Daytona
Posts: 3,302
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I think Daytona price will plummet on the back of this ..
front page news, watch enthusiasts don’t like Daytona - shock waves through the industry, Rolex stock has nose dived .. Now I’m questioning my love for the Daytona .. perhaps these folks are right, let me start a thread if it’s still safe to wear a Daytona now they’re officially unliked .. *inserts his own sarcasm emoji*
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#24 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 281
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Daytona is the peak of the Rolex professional watches imho. Perfect wearability, elegant (without red-blue-green etc details ) with a certain clout. I have three and look forward to adding more but as the Romans would say « de gustibus non est disputandum »
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#25 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Houston, Texas US
Posts: 490
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The whole Rolex popularity started with the SS Daytona precisely because it was so unloved in the 70s-80s. I mean that's why the Paul Newman was so rare, even his wife was duped by a Rolex salesman to buy an unpopular model. So I get why people wouldn't find it appealing now. But back in the late 90's early 2000's, it was what set off the craze.
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#26 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: LA
Watch: what’s next.
Posts: 1,152
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OP you should try the new 126500. It wears slightly bigger
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#27 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 2,181
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I love Daytona watches! Just don't like them on the Oysterflex. I like the metal bracelets.
It's good they have options for you to try on (exhibition models or used aftermarket). Saves you a lot of frustration if you buy a watch because of the hype and don't really understand what it's about or how it wears. Only thing I'd say is you were trying out used watches, some of them from the early 2000s. You should check the newest model before you pass judgement. Then again, you should only buy what you love or really want.
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t65tampa |
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#28 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: EARTH
Watch: What is "watch"?
Posts: 1,071
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Hyped to high-heaven. Still don’t understand why.
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“UNpolished or I’m not interested” 😎 ![]() |
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#29 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Real Name: Bob
Location: U.S.A.
Watch: 1655
Posts: 63,057
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I’m a Daytona fan
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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#30 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Orange County
Posts: 1,795
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Cool watch at retail but don’t get the hype
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AP 15500ST (Silver) // ♛ Rolex 126334 (Blue Roman, Fluted, Jubilee) // Ω Moonswatch (Mission to Pluto) // G-Shock GA2100-1A1 |
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