My Dream Daytona (Pics)

[jake]

Hi Simon!!!

You are too kind. I very much appreciate your kind words of encouragement. I think when some people destructively criticize work I have completed they don't realize how time consuming and challenging the actual process is.

Even though I use the computer, I still have to hand draw and build each element.

I am not crazy about every dial I have designed, but I think it is important to put them out there for review. You never know when something might grow on you or stimulate a new idea.

I completely agree with you about the hands being way too thin on the current models. The primary function of a Rolex should be to easily tell you the time in the light or dark.

I have not yet figured out how much it will cost to produce my dials and hands. Assuming I do produce them they will meet and more than likely exceed Rolex quality. I can say that if I had the option to buy a 35 year old Stainless Daytona for $160,000 or $300,000 U.S. or just pay $2,000 for a new dial and hands on a new Daytona there would be no doubt that I would save the money and end up with a better built, better designed, watch.

We are talking solid links v. hollow links, the new one has crowngaurds and a triple lock clasp where the $160,000 does not. Also I like the slightly closer and raised subials on the newer Datyona.

I included three black and white Daytona dials I designed along with the Stainless Daytona which recently sold for $160,000 U.S. for comparison sake. When you say you like the black and white retro dial for your 16520 which one do you like best?

Cheers!

Jake

Originally Posted by Gurmot

Go Jake Go! I have just read my way through all of this thread and I must admit that found it quite refreshing and amusing. You have certainly been busy and whilst some of your designs are not to my taste, a good number of them would definitely enhance the Daytona range. Good for you.

As I read the comments about "cartoons" I also thought of that horriblly garish leopard-skin print thing that is an actual offering by Rolex from the catalogue. It makes me wonder who is actually advising Rolex on design sometimes as I'm sure you could do a better job.

Keep them coming mate and put my name down for a black and white retro dial for my 16520 Daytona.

By the way, you are quite right about the hands being too thin also.

Cheers - Simon

[Gurmot]

The one on the left at the top looks best to me. White dial with black sub-dials and black outer ring. Gotta have the word "Daytona" in red as you have put it.

The only difference is the different layout of the 3 sub dials on the 16520 (Zenith movement) vs the 116520 as shown. The 16520 has the chrono hour accumulator sub-dial at the 6 oclock position.

Cheers - Simon

[jake]

Hi Simon!!!!

I agree the one in the upper left hand corner looks the best in the black and white range.

Your observations are very astute about the Rolex swapping two of the subdials between the Zenith and in-house Rolex movement.

On close observation, my dial design really incorporates the best of the old into the best of the new. For instance, on the dial that you like the best with the black ring, I improved it over the original by giving it much bolder and thus visible 5 minute luminous markers, and of course I have one at 12 o'clock. It is absolutely amazing to me how different a vibe you get by changing such a small detail.

I also intentionally subdued all the millisecond stops on the black ring by making them a very low contrast navy blue or as our friends in Scottland call it "Nevy Blow." By subduing the millisecond stops it makes the black ring really pop–which I love.

Also, my hands as seen in the illustration have a black ground instead of silver. I did this purposely for two reasons. First and foremost to make the hands stand out more optically, and also to maintain the design language of the current daytona with Black, White and Silver. My silver is the large timer hand.

I also removed the tails on the hands so they never cover the red "Daytona" designation, which looks much cleaner and stylish to me. In many ways I think the beauty of my desgin over the original and current Datyona has every bit as much to do with my new hands as it does my new dial design.

Simon, one question I have for you, is which crown do you like better. The original Rolex as seen on your favorite black and white dial, or would you prefer the Maxi crown as seen on the last Daytona image? I can't seem to make up my mind. The original is very subtle and low key. The Maxi crown is bold and seems to fill out the space better. What do you think?

One last point. The first time I saw the Ferrari red Daytona dial on the $300,000 Datyona, one of the first things that stood out to me was how clean, simple and elegant the dial looked without all the unnecessary cluttered mumbo jumbo text that is on the new watches. I don't need or want to see the words "Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified" on the watch. I think Rolex has gotten very carried away over the years with all the vapid text.

I see this vapid text as a sign of insecurity from Rolex that plays to the insecurity of purchasers.

Ferrari does not put a badge on back of their cars that says "Officially Certified Superlative Sports Car" they just have the cool prancing horse. This in my mind, is a concrete case of less truly being more.

What do you think?

BTW, I have some ideas that I am going to play with when I get the chance to take my new dial design improvements to the next level.

Cheers,

Jake

Originally Posted by Gurmot

The one on the left at the top looks best to me. White dial with black sub-dials and black outer ring. Gotta have the word "Daytona" in red as you have put it.

The only difference is the different layout of the 3 sub dials on the 16520 (Zenith movement) vs the 116520 as shown. The 16520 has the chrono hour accumulator sub-dial at the 6 oclock position.

Cheers - Simon

[oneillba]

Originally Posted by jake

Ironic my favorite Rolex is my LV sub and I love the colored Daytonas and you also have and LV and you can't stand the colors. I guess that is what makes a horserace a horserace!?!

Also kind of interesting the watch you say you "don't like" is perhaps the most expensive, collectable, rare and sought after Rolex on planet earth.

Touche'

[monaco]

Jake, I appreciate your attempts, but I'm afraid the designs look more Swatch like or rather school student wear-like. JMHO, no hard feelings please. :)
Regards

[Bisquitlips]

And what about this one?

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

And what about this one?

Richard... from the bottom of my heart... I hate you. No, I really do! You've got my DREAM watch, (plus a couple others that I wouldn't mind having), you're a very wealth-succesful man, probably with a wonderful wife and family... and to top it all off, you're probably very handsome too! Everything I always wanted and nothing I never got.... sigh.... it isn't fair... life just isn't fair....

[C. Davidson]

VTCGuy/Paul, you are way too funny.

Richard,

The meteroite dial looks awesome! I wonder it Rolex will ever put it on the 36mm or 41mm Datejusts?????

[Andad]

Wow, a thread from the past.

That last pix is an SS Daytona with a meteorite dial - that would be the one.

[jake]

Hi Eddie,

It is kind of like a Twilight Zone episode.

The meteorite dial is magnificent. The thing that is so profound about Meteorite dials is that the material they are made from is not of the earth and it typically was from a rock flying through space for millions or billions of years.

Jake

Originally Posted by directioneng

Wow, a thread from the past.

That last pix is an SS Daytona with a meteorite dial - that would be the one.

[thegreatmuta]

Jake, any updates on your project?

[sql]

Now there are many companies that could help with this.