Why are Daytonas so hard to find?

[enjoythemusic]

Why rare? Because cash is trash and no one wants to hold onto a currency right now for any length of time.

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by shaunylw

What is this grey market you speak of 20 years ago? you mean the sellers that you bought things at a discount from? Grey sellers were discount houses before they started selling at huge markups.


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Sorry but as others have said the Daytona upcharge and difficulty getting one from a dealer started by the late 80’s. The launch of the 16520 ended the days of the older four digits that once lingered on the shelf.
I naively walked into a dealer circa 1999 only to be given the same line you would get now, “sorry we don’t get many of those.” And yes grey dealers sold them for a premium then too. I lucked into getting one when a friend found two in the Cayman islands and sold me one. A year later I parlayed it into a new 116520.

[Bobby T]

Originally Posted by shaunylw

What is this grey market you speak of 20 years ago? you mean the sellers that you bought things at a discount from? Grey sellers were discount houses before they started selling at huge markups.


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Not on Daytonas ........you sound so foolish. It was around 2000 when Rolex launched its in-house movement for the Daytona, moving away from Zenith....demand truly started to become even more insane. September of '92, is when I first went looking for an SS Daytona, after purchasing my first Breitling. The retail price of an SS Daytona was $3850.......try to find one at an AD back then. Grey Market was already anywhere from $5,000-$7500

[Spence4]

I put myself on two waiting lists in 2007. Still waiting for a call from either of them.

[Polarexplorerii]

You have to pay if you wanna play

[HogwldFLTR]

Daytonas aren't scarce; stainless Daytonas are being horded by the secondary market. Stainless has been the target of purchase for those who want to buy in at a reduced price in comparison to TTs or PMs. Now they exceed the price of TTs which are still available. It's absurd that people would still prefer Stainless over either TT or PM as both are readily available.

[Oxfordian]

Originally Posted by Sg6067

Open yourself up to a two tone model and you will find one tomorrow. They are readily available just not in the ss model

No SS or TT Daytona is readily available according to my AD here in the UK, minimum of 5+ years for a SS version with a 12-18 months wait for a TT white or black dial, around 6 months for the champagne dial. Diamond dials around the same time frame as the B&W dials.

Full PM I have no idea as that is way out of my price range.

A popular Rolex in the UK is incredibly hard to obtain.

[Seaswirl]

I would image Rolex makes less 4130s than their other movements, with the exception of movements for YMIIs and Sky Dwellers. Of the 4130s made, I would also surmise that most 4130s go into two tone and precious metal models as they have higher margins.

[Sg6067]

Originally Posted by Oxfordian

No SS or TT Daytona is readily available according to my AD here in the UK, minimum of 5+ years for a SS version with a 12-18 months wait for a TT white or black dial, around 6 months for the champagne dial. Diamond dials around the same time frame as the B&W dials.

Full PM I have no idea as that is way out of my price range.

A popular Rolex in the UK is incredibly hard to obtain.

Wow I knew Rolex watches in general were tough to get in the UK but didn’t realize that also extended to two tone models! If I were you I would just wait for COVID to finally be done and then buy a plain ticket to the US. My AD literally always has a two tone Daytona sitting in the case for sale. They get them frequently and usually they sit in the case for months.

[tech114]

I still want a black ceramic daytona despite all the hype and crazy going on around it.
However, my desire is not enough to justify the steps I have to go through or fees I have to pay in addition to MSRP. After all, it's just a watch, and if I were to spend hefty amount of money for watch, I deserve to be served better.

[Juan Luis]

If it were true in my opinion, that the grey dealers have so many Daytonas, they should have been dumped into the market by now. Yet, the white dial ceramic is still going up. I do not believe it is something that compares to oil, gold, and or diamonds, that are being withheld to control market prices.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by Juan Luis

If it were true in my opinion, that the grey dealers have so many Daytonas, they should have been dumped into the market by now. Yet, the white dial ceramic is still going up. I do not believe it is something that compares to oil, gold, and or diamonds, that are being withheld to control market prices.

You contact any gray dealer and tell them you want a White Daytona at market price they will find one for you in less than 24 hours guaranteed

Daytona’s are made in a factory that mass produces watches. They are not a rare species being hunted into extinction lol

Don’t believe the hype. There are plenty out there but with plenty of demand to boot.

Anyone who wants to pay market price for it will get one real quick and will not go without

[Juan Luis]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

You contact any gray dealer and tell them you want a White Daytona at market price they will find one for you in less than 24 hours guaranteed

Daytona’s are made in a factory that mass produces watches. They are not a rare species being hunted into extinction lol

Don’t believe the hype. There are plenty out there but with plenty of demand to boot.

Anyone who wants to pay market price for it will get one real quick and will not go without

I don't doubt any grey dealer can source at market price. But, aren't so readily available, in my opinion. There are two top dealers and I want to avoid mentioning names....one doesn't even have the white dial listed, the other one has made it so one has to contact them. A few months ago I saw multiples black and white available with price and everything. BTW, I do not disagree with you 100%. I just don't buy the photo of brief cases full of them as an example. One can source almost any watch if willing to pay crazy prices.

[Rrpdc]

Because they are super small ! Lol.

[fsprow]

Very easy to find at market price (certainly not MSRP) from a variety of fine resellers.

[Tricolore66]

Absolutely not true. They were equally hard to get and selling for similar % premiums. They were also much less expensive. MSRP was around $7,500 and for many years traded for $10-12k. I know, I bought a number of them 20-25 years ago. I’m not sure how this myth that nobody wanted Daytona’s gets perpetuated and can only assume it’s newbies like you who don’t know the facts and merely repeating forum nonsense. If you don’t know the facts I’d refrain from commenting.

Originally Posted by shaunylw

You’re under the impression the Daytona has always been popular? Nobody wanted a Daytona 20 years ago. Until recently (8-10 years), this has been a very unpopular watch.


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[envuks]

I haven’t lost mine yet! It’s very easy to find every morning :-)


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[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

Absolutely not true. They were equally hard to get and selling for similar % premiums. They were also much less expensive. MSRP was around $7,500 and for many years traded for $10-12k. I know, I bought a number of them 20-25 years ago. I’m not sure how this myth that nobody wanted Daytona’s gets perpetuated and can only assume it’s newbies like you who don’t know the facts and merely repeating forum nonsense. If you don’t know the facts I’d refrain from commenting.

Mmmm maybe 20 years ago but 25 years ago there were plenty for sale at retail sitting in display cases, even discounts at some AD's, I was there.

[brucethemanlee]

Originally Posted by tricolore66

absolutely not true. They were equally hard to get and selling for similar % premiums. They were also much less expensive. Msrp was around $7,500 and for many years traded for $10-12k. I know, i bought a number of them 20-25 years ago. I’m not sure how this myth that nobody wanted daytona’s gets perpetuated and can only assume it’s newbies like you who don’t know the facts and merely repeating forum nonsense. If you don’t know the facts i’d refrain from commenting.

+1

[bp1000]

There must be about 40 variations of the Daytona across the board.

I’d say 5 are hard to get, the rest you could probably get within 1-6 months of asking from an ad.

[tacotaco]

Originally Posted by GB-man

It’s mainly due to tacos. People need tacos to survive but there’s a shortage. Most tacos dealers take Daytona’s in on trade for fresh tacos.

I gotta agree on that for sure! 🌮 > 👑

[bp1000]

Originally Posted by tacotaco

I gotta agree on that for sure! 🌮 > 👑

You couldn’t even fake this for the joke

Nice

[Tricolore66]

In ‘97 I bought one new while in the Caribbean at MSRP at the time and sold it BNIB two weeks later for $2k more to a grey dealer.

I do think there are many more being made today, but there are exponentially more internet dealers today, social media, and a lot more discretionary wealth than in ‘97.

I’m specifically referring to stainless in my post, there were plenty of 2-tone Daytona’s back then and you could get a big discount on one. I also recall white dials being far more difficult to get than black and the delta in price being much larger than today in terms of %.

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

Mmmm maybe 20 years ago but 25 years ago there were plenty for sale at retail sitting in display cases, even discounts at some AD's, I was there.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by tacotaco

I gotta agree on that for sure! >

your stance is well known

[Spectre38]

Originally Posted by GB-man

It’s mainly due to tacos. People need tacos to survive but there’s a shortage. Most tacos dealers take Daytona’s in on trade for fresh tacos.

What!!?? There's a taco shortage!!?? I am going to starve!

[Bobby T]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

In ‘97 I bought one new while in the Caribbean at MSRP at the time and sold it BNIB two weeks later for $2k more to a grey dealer.

I do think there are many more being made today, but there are exponentially more internet dealers today, social media, and a lot more discretionary wealth than in ‘97.

I’m specifically referring to stainless in my post, there were plenty of 2-tone Daytona’s back then and you could get a big discount on one. I also recall white dials being far more difficult to get than black and the delta in price being much larger than today in terms of %.

In 1997, I believe the retail price of a SS Daytona was $5100.......you sold it for $2K more.......40% markup........not too shabby for back then. Of course, today its nearly a 100% markup.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by peterpl

To the guys saying establish a relationship with an AD will get you that SS Daytona at MSRP - yes your are right but the ONLY reason - let me say it again the ONLY reason why this is happening is because the AD already made the $$$$ off you if they were to sell it to the grays directly themselves.

ADs will never give away a free $10k to you. So you've effectively paid for it already. Dont kid yourselves. Running multiple businesses I will never give away $10k+ to a customer "just because" for free. Either I've made it off them from previous sales or its because I will in future sales.

This. It's Capitalism, gents; plain and simple that's how the game is played.

[Moondoggy]

I do not think I was aware of "flipping" back then, however I do remember seeing white SS Daytona's on multiple occasions, I bought a SD in 1999 and got a discount.

When I was a little more active in buying watches, I would look at the PP catalogue ring up my AD, specify a watch and bingo I had one within a week or so, or I would just go in there see something I liked and buy it, SS sports PP and Rolex.

Different days for sure.

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

In ‘97 I bought one new while in the Caribbean at MSRP at the time and sold it BNIB two weeks later for $2k more to a grey dealer.

I do think there are many more being made today, but there are exponentially more internet dealers today, social media, and a lot more discretionary wealth than in ‘97.

I’m specifically referring to stainless in my post, there were plenty of 2-tone Daytona’s back then and you could get a big discount on one. I also recall white dials being far more difficult to get than black and the delta in price being much larger than today in terms of %.

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by FJT

I was lucky to pick up mine yesterday. My first Daytona and definitely won’t be my last.

This is the exact spec I want. Looks lovely.

[Golfbone]

Originally Posted by Snake Plissken

This is the exact spec I want. Looks lovely.

A beauty! Wear it in good health!