Daytona Question-Brushed Center Links?

[Rodmo]

Just wondering, when did the Daytona stop production with brushed center links? In other words, how far would one have to go back in vintage to get a Daytona with brushed center links? Would it be the ref 6263 which I think stopped production on 1988??

Thanks much........Rod

[Rodmo]

After digging more on the net I found some information which suggests that the polished center links were introduced on the Daytona somewhere in the 91-93 period. The reference I credit to ChronoArchive.com :


"late ‘87 the first 16520 came out. R-series with 200–180-160–50… bezel, with floating cosmograph (called floating dial) with the all brushed 78360 bracelet with a white or a black dial (black = more rare). This included the limited porcelain version

the 2nd version of the Daytona 16520 was the 1989 L-series (400–300-250–225… bezel, 4lines text dial, no officially certified on dial) and the all brushed 78360 bracelet. also in thew white and black dial versions.

3rd version is the early 1990/91 E-series (also X and N serie). 400–300-240–200… bezel with 5 lines text on the dial including the officially certified. The dial has an inverted 6 (which looks like a nine) and more rounded numbers.

another change came during the N-series (1991/1993-ish) with the new polished center links bracelet with ref# 78390"

[Yazo]

Here's another great site for you to reference:

http://doubleredseadweller.com/16520bracelets.html

[Rodmo]

Originally Posted by Yazo

Here's another great site for you to reference:

http://doubleredseadweller.com/16520bracelets.html

Thanks great link!

[Yacine]

Hi everyone,
Since i prefer non polished daytona 16520 with non polished center link bracelet, my question is :
should i have to go with a L serie wich cost more than other series or is it simply possible to switch the polished bracelet with a non polished one? do i have to change the bezel as well in non polished one in order to get my non polished daytona?
Thanks for clarifying things for me...

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by Yacine

Hi everyone,
Since i prefer non polished daytona 16520 with non polished center link bracelet, my question is :
should i have to go with a L serie wich cost more than other series or is it simply possible to switch the polished bracelet with a non polished one? do i have to change the bezel as well in non polished one in order to get my non polished daytona?
Thanks for clarifying things for me...

You could get a brand new 116520 and have the links brushed by a professional for around £50

[Yacine]

Yeah good idea. I didnt think about that..:)
if a professional can brush all the links the way i want it, then it's good news for me :)
I will go with any serie 16520 then :)
thanks for answering

[Yacine]

can anyone confirm to me if i buy any 16520 serie, i would be able to have an all brushed bracelet, case, bezel after serviced by a watchmaker...
Is that correct? will it be the same look as the one in the picture?

[Tools]

All watches can be polished or brushed to your liking. All you need to do is do-it, or pay somebody who knows how..

I don't like the polished center links, so I brush mine.. I do not brush the top of the case as the pre 2000 models were, but it isn't that tough to do..

There are thousands of other owners who do the same thing.......

[tnt]

Originally Posted by Tools

All watches can be polished or brushed to your liking. All you need to do is do-it, or pay somebody who knows how..

I don't like the polished center links, so I brush mine.. I do not brush the top of the case as the pre 2000 models were, but it isn't that tough to do..

There are thousands of other owners who do the same thing.......

It does look very nice!
How do you polish it back to the original state?
Also, is it the tool for brushing? And where may I purchase?

Thanks in advance!

[Yacine]

Thanks Larry for your answer!
But do you think the top of the case and bezel can be brushed as well? isn't delicate to do it on bezel? (numbers might be errased maybe..)
Can you tell me also the difference of the 2 watches in your picture and mine?
By the way, i like your watch. looks much better this way than polished!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Yacine

Thanks Larry for your answer!
But do you think the top of the case and bezel can be brushed as well? isn't delicate to do it on bezel? (numbers might be errased maybe..)
Can you tell me also the difference of the 2 watches in your picture and mine?
By the way, i like your watch. looks much better this way than polished!

Yes, the top of the case can be brushed in the same manner that many sport Rolex watches have a brushed top.. Older models used a radial or angled grain that crossed the lugs at an angle. New block-case models use a straight grain that parallels the inside of the lugs..

I would not touch a Daytona bezel because the etching is not deep and can be obliterated.

The watch in your picture is an older (pre 2000) SS 16520 with a brushed case and probably a non-original brushed SEL bracelet. Mine is a post-2000 model 116520 with the fully polished case and original polished cener-link 78490 bracelet (brushed).

[Yacine]

Larry, thanks for the info. Very useful for my knowledge.
Really appreciated!
cheers

[dommasters]

I have a 78390 that is original but has brushed centre links. Has anyone ever seen one before?
Thanks,
Dom

[dommasters]

Forget that lst question. It has just been polished exceptionally well. Whilst it looks great, I'd prefer if it were original.

[azguy]

someone posted a completely brushed Daytona a few months ago, including the bezel...it looked great IMO, maybe a search will unearth it

[HACKNSACK44]

Originally Posted by azguy

someone posted a completely brushed Daytona a few months ago, including the bezel...it looked great IMO, maybe a search will unearth it

That might have been me: Daytona 116520 with WG Black Dial, Red Hands, Brushed Band, Lugs and Bezel..

[azguy]

Originally Posted by HACKNSACK44

That might have been me: Daytona 116520 with WG Black Dial, Red Hands, Brushed Band, Lugs and Bezel..

Yes it was your watch is not only beautiful, but unique....How did you brush out the bezel

Awesome watch

[HACKNSACK44]

Originally Posted by azguy

Yes it was your watch is not only beautiful, but unique....How did you brush out the bezel

Awesome watch

Thanks!! Doug (dhh) did the brushed bezel.. My watchmaker Harry brushed the lugs and band..

[dommasters]

That looks 10 x better without the polished lugs and you sold me on the brushed bracelet :)

[zak98]

like the brushed look for center links.. for sure!

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Brushed for me!

[teamlam]

brushed is soo nice! takes off that extra glare! its a beauty already

[SS Oyster]

PCLs, illegible dial and no date prevented me from buying this wonderful watch.

For me, had I purchased a SS Daytona (I was this close), I would have had someone brush my bracelet, installed a DHH acrylic bezel insert, replaced the dial with a WG Panda, and used my iPhone for the date. I felt that was just too much compromise and I wasn't sure how much I would have devalued the Daytona by doing those things. Of course, the DHH insert would have allowed me to keep the new polished original bezel, which means that would be ok for resale, but in the end I just couldn't love it without all the mods, which would have cost me upwards of $2k ... just couldn't justify it when I could purchase two brand new (or near new) sport Rolex watches for the same price.

Perhaps someday I'll get one.

[dommasters]

This thread has really pee'd me off :)
I had zero offers for my MK 1 78390 bracelet despite the fact that it had had the centre links brushed such that it looked as if it originally came that way. Now that it has been polished back to original, I find that everyone wants a brushed one :)))

[Yacine]

my daytona with brushed bracelet :

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...06#post3245206