What's special about a Daytona?

[sarir97]

Dear TRF members,

I'm new to the Rolex world, so please educate me. What makes a Daytona special, more so than a Sub or SD, or even DSSD? Why is there such a demand, and why is there a long wait list to get one?

[MNDZA]

There's no wait list to get one here. All the ADs have them on display. I think they are wanted because they have a chronograph and represent a mechanical step up from the typical Rolex.....and they look great too!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by sarir97

Dear TRF members,

I'm new to the Rolex world, so please educate me. What makes a Daytona special, more so than a Sub or SD, or even DSSD? Why is there such a demand, and why is there a long wait list to get one?

Every product line has it's superstars, be it BMW, Mercedes, Levi's, Ben & Jerry's, or Rolex....

[gwalker]

I don't think it is. It's not a rare watch anymore just a little more complicated.

[sarir97]

Originally Posted by gwalker

I don't think it is. It's not a rare watch anymore just a little more complicated.

Is the Daytona the most complicated watch Rolex makes?

[marshallr47]

IMHO, A watch is special only if the watch owner deems it special. To be honest with you when I first saw the Daytona(online), I though, what's all the hype about? It looked good but no date? Then I tried one on and fell in love. I love the way it looked on my wrist and that's what sold me.

[DolphinV8]

Rolex's marketing strategy makes the SS Daytona special.

[mjrennie]

As someone has already said, it's about how the owner perceives 'special'. I've tried them on and it does nothing for me. My wrists seem to drown it and I'd hardly be called a big bloke. If it were Sub-size, I'd be in for it, but it's not and I suppose never will be.

I think the chronograph function will certainly add to the complication, but does anyone regualarly use it? I had a Tag Monaco for a while and rarely started up the chronograph.

[AlbyCrowned]

The Daytona is a mith and what makes it special (if we can say special) and wanted is the status symbol and the history behind its name!
There are so much watches better than the Daytona, but they're not Daytona..
For what regards the other watches in Rolex collection I think they're not less than the Daytona in some cases..
In my personal opinion the Submariner is THE Rolex, more historical and representative of the Rolex brand than the Daytona!

[mjclark32]

I like it, I'd love it with a date (no cyclops)...

[dddrees]

There doesn't seem to be the demand there once was, or at least it does not appear to be as hard to get a SS Daytona as it once was. I still have yet to see a SS Daytona on display at an AD with the exception of a used one but even that is pretty rare. When I did even the used one commanded a higher price at the time I saw it.

The SS Daytona used to be real difficult to get and one had to be a good customer at an AD, go on a waiting list, and potentially wait years to get one. The demand used to be higher than the supply. I understood that customers used to pay prices higher than MSRP to get one, and could potentially turn around and sell one formore than what they paid for it after they got one.

The Daytona and in fact Chronographs where not that special when they came out originally, in fact that is why some of the older ones now are worth so much money. However at some point Rolex was able to turn this around and they became special. Probably because the created an aura about them, and partly maybe because peoples tastes changed.

Whether it is special to you or not doesn't really matter. I thought it was special enough that I wanted one. I have not been disapointed, because I really think it is pretty special. As long as you get the watch that is special to you, then that's all that matters.

[dalip]

Originally Posted by sarir97

Is the Daytona the most complicated watch Rolex makes?

Nope - that would be the 4160 in the YM II

[HL65]

Originally Posted by dalip

Nope - that would be the 4160 in the YM II

Correct! Also- why does this always seem to lead to Daytona bashing...

[dalip]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Correct! Also- why does this always seem to lead to Daytona bashing...

Has to be because it's such a great watch Ken

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Correct! Also- why does this always seem to lead to Daytona bashing...

Originally Posted by dalip

Has to be because it's such a great watch Ken

Only the real special one's generate this much excitement.

[HL65]

Agree Dan and Dalip!!

[nauticajoe]

That's because I said so.

[The Joker]

It the prettiest watch in the Rolex line up. That's what makes it special.

[The GMT Master]

It's certainly a very, very good chronograph, with a movement that is universally regarded as excellent. However, the reputation of the Daytona has always been somewhat self-fulfilling - it's popular because it's popular. It seems hard to believe these days that the original was a complete failure in terms of sales. It turned around in the late 1980s, when the Italian fashion scene picked up on it, and started snapping up the early models, particularly those with exotic dials. That reflected itself with people buying the latest production models as well, coinciding with the release of the ref. 16520, with the Zenith-based movement.

With that model, there were never enough ebauches (base movements) to meet demand - whether Zenith couldn't produce enough, or didn't want to supply enough, we don't know. This led to the formation of the legendary Daytona waiting lists, and the watch's unobtainable aura contributed further to its mystique. The watch was updated in 2001 with the introduction of Rolex's in-house cal. 4130, and that cleared up any of the production problems, but, despite the improved supply, demand could still not be met. People were under the impression for a long time that the Daytona was a rare watch - it wasn't, it was a regular production model, produced in the thousands. The demand was (and still is) just so high, Rolex couldn't (or wouldn't) match production to it.

So is there anything particularly special about the Daytona? From a purely horological point of view, not really - a very solid chronograph, but nothing world changing. From the point of view of collectors, there is: the association with Paul Newman, the scarcity of the original, the perceived scarcity of the current model. At the end of the day, it's down to what you prefer yourself. For me, I was always somewhat underwhelmed by the SS model, I far preferred the bold design of the dials available on the TT model. But if you should decide to buy a Daytona, make sure you're in love with the watch, not it's reputation

Chris

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

But if you should decide to buy a Daytona, make sure you're in love with the watch, not it's reputation

Chris

I think you've done an excellent job of explaining the mystic of the Daytona and why I've never really been drawn to the watch, even the SS model, or perhaps I should say, especially the SS model.

The above quote is probably the best advice for anyone who buys any watch, especially a luxury watch.

[speedo]

a beautiful rolex it is. a shame that the nicer dials only come with the precious metal versions.

[smallcandle]

IMO hype and marketing are what make the Daytona special.

On a different note, I wonder how long it will be before the OP's avatar is removed. You know, cause of the gun and all...

[BH13GMT]

Great post Chris thanks

[Welshwatchman]

Personally, I'm happy that the current MRSP has made the 116520 a watch that can be purchased from a display window as opposed to making flippers a fast buck.

[BarkMaster]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Correct! Also- why does this always seem to lead to Daytona bashing...

Bashing??? You should start a thread on bark.

[VetteBandit]

Just adding my 2 cents to what has been said.

[Tony-GB]

Apparently, if you're bald & rub a Daytona on your head, your hair will grow back thick & lustrous.

Just don't rub it on your Mars & Venus*!


*Cockney rhyming slang

[johnny80s]

If you get a chance try one on. You'll see for yourself. I could of gone either way on purchasing one. Saw a two tone in the store, tried it on and loved how it felt and looked on the wrist. Knew I had to have a SS white dialed one then. Found one about 6 months later. Never looked back.

[Coffee Mug]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

It's certainly a very, very good chronograph, with a movement that is universally regarded as excellent. However, the reputation of the Daytona has always been somewhat self-fulfilling - it's popular because it's popular. It seems hard to believe these days that the original was a complete failure in terms of sales. It turned around in the late 1980s, when the Italian fashion scene picked up on it, and started snapping up the early models, particularly those with exotic dials. That reflected itself with people buying the latest production models as well, coinciding with the release of the ref. 16520, with the Zenith-based movement.

With that model, there were never enough ebauches (base movements) to meet demand - whether Zenith couldn't produce enough, or didn't want to supply enough, we don't know. This led to the formation of the legendary Daytona waiting lists, and the watch's unobtainable aura contributed further to its mystique. The watch was updated in 2001 with the introduction of Rolex's in-house cal. 4130, and that cleared up any of the production problems, but, despite the improved supply, demand could still not be met. People were under the impression for a long time that the Daytona was a rare watch - it wasn't, it was a regular production model, produced in the thousands. The demand was (and still is) just so high, Rolex couldn't (or wouldn't) match production to it.

So is there anything particularly special about the Daytona? From a purely horological point of view, not really - a very solid chronograph, but nothing world changing. From the point of view of collectors, there is: the association with Paul Newman, the scarcity of the original, the perceived scarcity of the current model. At the end of the day, it's down to what you prefer yourself. For me, I was always somewhat underwhelmed by the SS model, I far preferred the bold design of the dials available on the TT model. But if you should decide to buy a Daytona, make sure you're in love with the watch, not it's reputation.

Excellent info; thanks!

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by dalip

Nope - that would be the 4160 in the YM II

X2.

I don't care for the Dayton. The dial, and hands make it difficult to determine the time - no contrast. The sub dials make using the chronograh next to impossible to use.

Just my opinion.