My Daytona..

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This week has been a very difficult week for me.. I was visiting one of my watch stores, and something caught my eye..

After the incident of my Milgauss - where it was a Folex - I just thought I had to buy another Rolex... so on I went for a search... and surprisingly, I saw something very very eye catching.

The Daytona 18k Yellow Gold with Mother of Pearl dial on leather.



I have always disliked gold coloured watches - well not exactly dislike, but I feel they look kinda too blingy for me - and I just feel it doesn't fit me very much.. So I had doubts of the Daytona and visited other stores, looking at a Yatch Master that I also really liked.. And perhaps I thought, I should just get a submariner...

Budget was also a concern, I was worried if I am prepared to shell out USD 11k for the Daytona 18k YG leather, compared to say a pre-owned YM for around 5.5k... Which is like half the price... so for a few days I went for a searching spree, and I found myself with several options.. The YM full size, an anniversary green bezel (unworn) Sub-date, and an Explorer II (black dial)...

Despite those three very very nice watches and options, I somehow just couldn't get the image of the Daytona out of my head - it keeps bugging me. I have a thing for Mother of Pearl dials, and honestly, no watch brand for men - does Mother of Pearl dials like Rolex does. The colour hues, the shine, and everything else, is simply stunning. Combined with the 18k Yellow Gold, it just amazes me...



So I thought, hey maybe I didn't get a closer look, and I need to seriously see what's the Daytona all about. So off I went the next day to the store again, and checked out the Daytona...

It was in mint condition, 2005 edition, with box and certificate. I thought - not bad - and the leather strap was just recently fitted with a brand new original Rolex leather strap.. (NOT the one in pictures... read on...)... It was in all of it's original condition, and looks like it hasn't been thoroughly cleaned - was there were some dirt spots here and there... So wanting to see it in it's best condition, I asked the store to clean it up for me so I can take a serious look at it.. and I had to leave anyway, since I had another appointment... But by the time I left the store that day - I just thought I had to buy that Daytona. The dial, the bezel, the colour of the combination between YG and brown strap... man I was SOLD. But then again - I didn't want to rush, after all - it's an 11k purchase.

The next I was kinda occupied so I couldn't visit the store again until the day after... when I can, I was all hyped up, and believe it or not, I got cold hands and feet! :D

So I went to have another look at it - after it was cleaned - and I bargained. The store couldn't lower the price any further and I didn't want to spend that much cash... so I went back home and planned to trade a few of my watches instead.



The next day - I went back with a few of my watches that hasn't been getting any wrist time lately - and we bargained, discussed, and finally dealt. I traded in my Bell n Ross, and my GMT Master II Coke and my IWC Portofino, and some cash.

Boy I WAS SO HAPPY. And I asked the store to adjust the strap for me, and I wanted to try it on my wrist... and so I did... but ALAS! The strap was too large! Even on it's smallest setting! I could at least fit 3 fingers in the space that was available... so the store went about searching for the available straps there, but they had none available for my size... I was instantly disappointed. Thankfully, the store was being very nice to me, and offered me a further discount, and promised to cut a strap of my choice that's a available there to my size. So I picked one.

As I get home, I remembered there was an alligator strap that I once bought for my portofino that may just fit the Daytona, while I was waiting to get my strap done... my Daytona was strapless.. So I looked for it, and just my luck, it happens to be the same size for my daytona, and I had it on a gold buckle! So boy oh boy, I couldn't wait to see it... So I immediately fitted the strap on it, and I was happy. It was a HIRSCH Alligator strap... its very soft and very "cheap" compared to original brand Alligator straps, so I bought a few in the past in several colours...



After wearing it on my wrist for the first time... I was in love... I just can't describe it... Simply, I love the way it looks on my wrist!

Thanks for reading.. :)