Once and for all, SS Daytona Hype (availability) Poll

[TheVTCGuy]

OK... Here we go. I have heard so many times on this forum... about how the hype of the SS Daytona is long over, they are easily available, and as a matter of fact, if you order a set of steak knives on the shopping channel for $29.95 they throw one in for free. So, first, a couple statements and explanation as to exactly what this poll is asking.

1. If you are of the opinion that the "Hype" (paying more then MSRP) of the SS Daytona was WAY over-blown and un-deserved....

NO ARGUMENT

Heck, even as an owner I kind of agree with some of that. I love my watch, but when I got mine for MSRP, I could have sold it for $5,000 more! That does actually boarder on the ridiculous, and if you feel it was totally un-justified, I can't argue with you.

2. If you are claiming that the SS Daytona is MORE available these days, be it due to the economy, or the lust for the model just over, and that they are to be had from some ADs at MSRP or even a discount and at Gray dealers much easier then before and possibly a more substantial discount....

NO ARGUMENT

Absolutely it's true, there are more on here, at lower prices. We hear all the time about ADs having some in the safe and making calls to people on "the list" and... well generally just being much easier to get at a much more reasonable price. You are absolutely right.

BUT... (point of this poll)

3. If you are claiming that the SS Daytona is sitting in display cases of ADs as readily available as a GMT II - C, or a DJ II, or just about any other model.

YOU'RE CRAZY

If you ask, do they have one in the safe available? Maybe, but do say you can walk in to any AD in the US and see them sitting in the display case right next to the GMTs and SDs and the rest of the lineup waiting to be bought is ridiculous. So.... Point of this Poll.

To you TRFers, how many of you, IN THE UNITED STATES, and you HAVE to have PERSONAL experience on this one, it must be you... not you heard from someone that had a friend who'd hairdresser heard about a guy she dated that was talking to a guy in a bar etc. etc. etc. How many of YOU, in the last... oh, we'll make it six months, have walked in to an AD, anywhere in the US and seen, in the display case, ready for purchase, a SS Daytona?

Please be honest and let TRFers be heard!!!!

[JUSTROLEXES]

Paul my friend a SS Daytona is a SS daytona and will always be
IMO there is today the same amount of daytonas at AD that was before the only difference is Flippers that used to buy it and sell it for a nice profit can not do that today but that is not new to the Daytona...
You will see 5 of them listed with no action for few weeks and then all are gone and there isn't one that you can buy
Soon Rolex will have a surprise for those who don't believe in the daytona anymore

[TheVTCGuy]

Tony! Do you know something we don't know!?!? Am I going to be buying something from you pretty soon?

[sea-dweller]

Yes, I have seen several, in several AD cases...

[JUSTROLEXES]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Tony! Do you know something we don't know!?!? Am I going to be buying something from you pretty soon?

I wish I have any news for you the only thing I can tell you is Rolex is having a Price increase in Aisa this week about 6%

[wokafu]

opps...i just voted YES I HAVe..but didnt know this is only meant for US..sorry...

[snowbird]

Well, I don't think they are as readily available as some other Rolex models, and gray dealers still sell them for a premium over MSRP.

However I have seen a few sitting in AD cases there for the taking in the last year (most recently, October 2010) and at one AD the store manager was trying pretty hard to get me to buy it.

[train-time]

Paul, I walked into a local AD a little over a year ago to order a link and while standing at the case my eyes glanced down and there was a SS Daytona. I completely lost focus of why I went there and asked to see the Daytona. After a brief discussion the sales associate offered it to me at 10% off list (prior to the last price increase). I completed my order for the link and realized I couldn't walk out without doing something about the SS Daytona. It was just too good to pass up. Anyway, not being totally prepared to drop $9K on the spot, they agreed to take a 10% deposit and hold the Daytona for me for 60 days -- it turned out to be an amazing visit!

Since that visit, I purchased another one from them and three others from a different local AD, but in each case I was on a short list for them.

[Rolex Freak]

I voted no because I live in Canada. But in all honesty one local dealer over the phone said that he had both black and white dials in stock. It was over the phone so I couldn't tell you if they were in the showcase, however he did offer me 20% off if I bought them both. While visiting another dealer I asked whether he had any Daytona's and hidden behind the counter he pulled out a white dial. So no it wasn't in the display but nonetheless, available, when usually there have been waiting lists. Not sure exactly what is causing this, but it worked in my favor because I just recently put a deposit on a white dial with a seller here on the forum. Personally I think if Rolex gets wind of the availability out there, they will shrink supply and put a strangle hold on the supply and demand.

[cool-canuck]

I was in Vegas in December and out of 5 shops I didn't see a single SS Daytona in the case. From talking to one salesperson though, it sounded like getting one was a few month wait, and supply was 2-4 watches per month.

Here in Canada i've seen both black and white in display cases at 2 different shops recently. Another TRF member mentioned he was even offered one at a 17% discount.

[WatchTimes]

They are in the case at a couple ADs in my area.
A couple other local ADs have them in back and if you know what you are talking about, know how to build it up to give them the impression you are looking at other stuff as well (gift for wife etc) down the road and you will be surprised how many just got one which they have not had a chance to bring out yet but they will get it from the safe from you!

BTW I have passed on getting one (even at a slight discount) many times. I just never warmed up to the Daytona but all of the sudden I am starting to get an itch, when I get an itch it is dangerous! I can't decide between a Zenith with the brushed center links or a current model. Since I wear my white exp II so much I think Id likely (surprisingly) get the black dial. I really thought IF I did break down Id go white dial.

[stalkerman]

From across the pond I have never, ever, ever seen one in an AD's display - and I always check. When i got mine (about 4 years ago) I was told to expect to wait 3-4 years, in reality I got one after 16 months.

[spuds]

Uk again but never seen one in an AD's window...

[Singslinger]

I'd certainly be interested to see what the results are.

[1HotBoss70]

Originally Posted by cool-canuck

I was in Vegas in December and out of 5 shops I didn't see a single SS Daytona in the case. From talking to one salesperson though, it sounded like getting one was a few month wait, and supply was 2-4 watches per month.

Here in Canada i've seen both black and white in display cases at 2 different shops recently. Another TRF member mentioned he was even offered one at a 17% discount.

SO very true...I was offered either a black or white dial at this discount...BUT neither of the models were in the showcase both were gotten from the safe in the back not out for public display...

This maybe a ploy from ROLEX to give the perception of shortage, when in fact there is none...message from ROLEX to AD keep them out of the showcase and do not discount...give the customers a perceived notion of shortage thus able to make closer or above MRSP...my thoughts

[general]

here in the US I see plenty of TT and all gold but not a single SS.

[jayeff]

Originally Posted by wokafu

opps...i just voted YES I HAVe..but didnt know this is only meant for US..sorry...

+1

[Andad]

Yes Paul, I saw one in Oz - probably because over here they are over 13K.

[GolfPunk]

there is still a serious waiting time here in th UK

[dddrees]

I have yet to see one in the display case.

[The GMT Master]

Here are my views from working at a UK AD.

I think that in the past 12-18 months, the Daytona has begun to lose a little of its sparkle. I think people are beginning to catch on to the fact that they're not an especially difficult watch to get hold of if you buy at grey dealer prices - I don't think it helps that Rolex have been pretty brutal with their price rises on the Daytona, either, and we're at about the limits people will willingly pay for one now.

In terms of availability, the white dial is as hard to get as ever, but the black dial is becoming easier to find now. We've pretty much cleared our list of people wanting black dials now, and we've had to put three black dialled Daytonas in the window this year to actually shift them. Saying that, the longest we had them in the window was maybe a week, so people are still wanting to buy them, just not wait for them any more. I can understand that, I wouldn't want to wait years for a watch unless it was handcrafted from a block of unobtainium by the finest watchmaker in the world! (Slight hyperbole there, but I hope you get my point!)

Finally, in terms of supply (as opposed to availability), the Daytona is being supplied in numbers not far off that of the GMT and Sub. We're talking one or two watches a year less, max. I don't know if that's just us, or whether it's true across the board, but that's what's happening where I work. We will sell more Daytonas in a year than Explorers, Explorer IIs, S/P Yacht-Masters and non-GV Milgausses combined.

Some final answers: is the Daytona a rare watch? No, and it never has been, it just has massive, massive demand. That demand is slipping a bit, but the Daytona is still the one watch you can guarantee to sell almost immediately. Will the 116520 ever become a collector's item? I'm sorry, but too many have been made to make it be a viable collector's piece in the future. You have to apply inverse logic to that question: if the watch is popular now, it's not going to be as desirable in the future. Ironically, that's what makes the original Daytona so valuable today

Chris

[Carlos98326194]

Originally Posted by justrolexes

I wish I have any news for you the only thing I can tell you is Rolex is having a Price increase in Aisa this week about 6%

Hong kong just have a price increased of 6% about 2 weeks ago.

I guarantee that there is no way in HK AD that you can see a SS Daytona on display. The only way you can get your hands on them is thru VIP connections and plus a premium of about 15-20% on Black dial daytona.

[nch209]

I sold a new one (V) a few months ago for $9k. These aren't rare- pure hype if you ask me. Still nice, but they are around- in the case from time to time, and in the back safes for sure! I have seen one in the case in Hawaii about a year ago- and one in KY a few months ago.

[HL65]

No-but I know AD has a few in his safe. He did tell me they are not selling like they were--but then again--What is??

[karmatp]

I don't make a point to go to many different AD's but my local one has had them in the case this past year. I know even when they were I so called hard to find they could get one easily.

I have never understood the craze. For one, I'm not a chrono guy, I just don't use that feature. For two, I have never thought it would be hard to get one if you have the cash. So for me, there is a lot of false hype, if you have the money, you can get one easily.

[esm]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

To you TRFers, how many of you, IN THE UNITED STATES, and you HAVE to have PERSONAL experience on this one, it must be you... not you heard from someone that had a friend who'd hairdresser heard about a guy she dated that was talking to a guy in a bar etc. etc. etc. How many of YOU, in the last... oh, we'll make it six months, have walked in to an AD, anywhere in the US and seen, in the display case, ready for purchase, a SS Daytona?

Please be honest and let TRFers be heard!!!!

CR@P..... why didnt you say that in the beginning? how can i retrieve my vote?

[clum19]

Also see lots of TT and gold, but no SS in cases

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by esm

CR@P..... why didnt you say that in the beginning? how can i retrieve my vote?

We're all friends together, let's make this Worldwide.

I've not seen one in an AD display case but I know that out of the 3 ADs I frequent 2 of them have at least one of each dial colour in the safe.

The hype is still there but it's waning big time.

In the UK a privately offered preowend 116520 will tend to sell for $1500+ less than the current MRSP.

[esm]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

We're all friends together, let's make this Worldwide.

the wise-man has spoken

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

I've not seen one in an AD display case but I know that out of the 3 ADs I frequent 2 of them have at least one of each dial colour in the safe.

The hype is still there but it's waning big time.

In the UK a privately offered preowend 116520 will tend to sell for $1500+ less than the current MRSP.

yep - i have been offered 3 times at different London ADs, but the catch is i had to make a full precious metal model first...

imo - the hype is still there, especially in London, but not as much as say a couple of years ago. most grey dealers are still selling higher than MSRP for BNIB pieces. the pre-owned prices seems to be quite stable atm.

[Puffy]

loads and loads around and at great discounts

they even sell on our intranet at work