Incoming Daytona 16520 Safe Queen

[swish77]

Haven’t had a vintage Rolex incoming in a while, but I had a very cool one last week, a T-serial safe queen 16520 Daytona from the original owner, with everything from new, down to the case-back sticker, original serial hang tag and AD purchase receipt.

I had been on the hunt for a 16520 (black only) to replace one I sold two years ago to fund a car purchase, and found a bad listing online from a seller in San Francisco (no watch forums), with a vague description and weak photos. I asked for additional info and better photos, and I couldn’t believe it. It looked almost brand new, but the story also sounded like a watch cliché. The seller was the original owner who bought it new for $6,500 (including tax) from the AD in 1997 as his “special” watch, but said he wore it only a handful of times and then stuck it in a safe. The watch has never been polished nor serviced. It’s not NOS, and has a couple of minor hairlines, but it's otherwise pristine, with a mint, super tight bracelet (and correct "Z1" bracelet code). After verifying the story (numerous phone calls and a couple of videos), I knew I needed to buy it.

The original owner isn’t a watch guy, but he had Googled prices, so he knew rough current values of 16520s, although there really aren’t many full sets in this like-new condition on the market as a comparison. We negotiated what I felt was a fair price for a private transaction and he accepted. Problem was, how do you complete a big-money deal with a stranger on the other side of the States who has no watch-forum references and doesn’t care about mine? So, he says, “I’ll jump on a red eye to New York and we can do the transaction in person.” Wait, what? Yes, indeed. Three days later he flew cross country and met me at a Chase bank in NYC. I examined the watch for about 30 minutes in the lobby (blacklight, bracelet off, accessories scrutinized, movement check, serial number verification, etc …) and paid him. Done! He flew back to San Fran the same day.

After seeing so many 16520s through the years, it’s great to have one with perfect original factory brushing on the lugs and a confirmed unpolished case and bezel. The tritium has turned a lovely cream color that matches the patina on the sub-dials, and the bezel is razor sharp with perfect paint. Made me realize that so many Daytonas that dealers list as unpolished, are in fact polished. (Nothing new). I removed the case back sticker to preserve it, sized the bracelet, and have been wearing the watch for the last week. Amazingly, it still functions perfectly and is only plus 2 seconds a day, although after 26 years, I’ll need to have it serviced soon.

[sensui]

What a find. Congrats!

[Dan S]

I love the way the tritium dial has aged subtly, looks fantastic. Congrats, Aaron.

[Juhuatai]

wow after looking at this, it's night and day what dealers call unpolished and what truly unpolished looks like. It looks like it just left the factory wow. congrats!

[swish77]

Thanks, guys!

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

wow after looking at this, it's night and day what dealers call unpolished and what truly unpolished looks like.

Yeah, it's rampant among dealers across all vintage sports models, and has been going on forever, but because of the case design and all the high-polished areas, I think it's worse on 16520s, and tougher to spot.

I notice it mostly on the crown guards, which are quite long on unpolished examples, and on the lip of the bezel edge, which often gets polished away. And the lugs on this example are just so much fatter than what you usually see.

As I've written many times, nothing wrong with a polished watch. Just don't say it's unpolished when it has been (and charge more because of it!)

[springer]

Congratulations Aaron.

[baumare]

Great watch and what a nice story, no Fedex or UPS, just a transition between two nice gentleman.
Congratulation and thank you for sharing.

[drefrank]

Incredible watch and a great story.
And that patina!!!

[Daytonaman799]

Great find and an even better story. Glad it worked out so well for you!

[mineral]

Congrats Aaron. I wish I have luck as you to find this queen :) or sleeping beauty.

Enjoy it in good health


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[hutch300]

Great find and thank you for sharing the story. I thought it was going to be you that jumped on the plane!

[TuRo]

Corker ...

[brandrea]

Congratulations Aaron, what a find

I prefer this to the modern reference with ceramic bezel

[1665fan]

Welcome to the club! Nice pick up



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[Heliopause]

That's an oldie. Nice find

[swish77]

Thanks eveyone! Just shows that there are indeed time-capsule vintage/classic watches still out there, and you don't always need to get them from dealers.

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Welcome to the club! Nice pick up

Wow, that looks like a true Patrizzi. Very nice. And that brings me to another point .... Just because it's a black 16520 doesn't mean it's a Patrizzi. Many sellers incorrectly are calling these watches Patrizzi just because the sub-dials have patina. They pretty much all patina to some degree on black 16520s. Patrizzi dials, however, have a very distinctive brown look to the sub-dials and were produced between 1993-95, with perhaps some exceptions.

Realized I forgot to add the obligatory wrist shot!

[karleone]

Wow what a great story and pick up! The watch is an amazing condition! Congrats!!

[PVR]

Could you please PM privately me and give me an idea of what you paid, if you prefer not to share that information publicly? I just got one as nice and unpolished as yours and wondering what it's worth if I choose to sell it. Wish I knew you were looking, I could have sold you mine locally :(

[logo]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Congratulations Aaron, what a find

I prefer this to the modern reference with ceramic bezel

+1, no contest IMO. Much prefer the Daytona in full metal. The balanced subdials perfectly aligning to 9, 6 and 3 on the 16520 is the icing on the cake! Congrats OP.

[cwilson13]

Wowza.

And I don't throw that word around loosely!

Congrats Aaron.

[PVR]

Beautiful watch, Beautiful Condition. At least it went to someone who will appreciate it. Wear it in good health..

[TimeLord2]

That is a beautiful watch. I can't imagine keeping it in a safe for 20 plus years.

[subx]

beautiful example, big congrats

[HERITAGE82]

Great story & glad it all worked out!

Beautiful Example!!

[yessir69]

Very nice.

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[LJubel328]

I love hearing about stories like this. Do you mind saying what site you found the listing on?


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[theflywrist]

Beautiful pickup brother.
Wear in best health!

[rom33]

Aaron,
Congratulations! It’s beautiful.
May I ask how you perform a thorough examination in
The bank‘s lobby?

Did you ask for a *transaction* room?
In performing a background check was there one thing that gave you
Confidence the buyer was legit?
I assume your a customer of the bank.
Thank you and great job! Hi

[Wahlberg]

Beautiful! Love the tight case.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by rom33

Aaron,
Congratulations! It’s beautiful.
May I ask how you perform a thorough examination in
The bank‘s lobby?

Did you ask for a *transaction* room?
In performing a background check was there one thing that gave you
Confidence the buyer was legit?
I assume your a customer of the bank.
Thank you and great job! Hi

Well, I only included the short version of this story, but a lot more went into it to make sure all was good. It took three days of back and forth.

For starters, we exchanged photos of our driver's licenses, and then he sent me a lot of photos and a couple of videos of the watch and all accessories, including his original purchase receipt that matched the name of the AD on the Rolex guarantee paper. I actually had to take a leap of faith first. He wouldn't agree to fly to NYC without a deposit, so I PayPal'd him $1K. A bit of a risk, but everything added up, so I was very confident.

As for checking out the watch at my local Chase branch, there are chairs and a table they allowed us to use in a corner of the lobby. I brought all my tools and took my time making sure all was legit with the watch. I've been doing this a long, long time, so I know what I'm looking at. I've owned two other 16520s through the years and have seen hundreds of them, in person or online.

Overall, a very fun experience buying an old Rolex from the original owner. We hung out a little afterward and I bought him breakfast. The least I could do!