Was Daytona always impossible to get

[Jason Bourne]

Since I’m quite new to Rolex game I have a question to experienced players.

Was there time when you could get Panda as a walk-in purchase? Or at least reasonable wait time?

If yes, will it ever come back? Cannot justify paying almost double premium.

[4reRlxGuy]

Steel Daytonas (white or black) were always difficult to obtain ever since the Zenith movement models in the early 90s.

[daysky1]

Originally Posted by Jason Bourne

Since I’m quite new to Rolex game I have a question to experienced players.

Was there time when you could get Panda as a walk-in purchase? Or at least reasonable wait time?

If yes, will it ever come back? Cannot justify paying almost double premium.

i've heard stories of people buying a lot of stuff from an authorized dealer other than their watch hoping to be able to get some purchase history so that they can qualify to be selected by the authorized dealer for a watch that they really want. I would not recommend going that route. If you are a watch collector and you're authorized dealer sells watches that you're interested in then check them out if they have one that you want then buy it let them know you are interested in a Rolex also of course and which one you would like to have. But if you're spending money in the hopes of being able to buy a Daytona someday and you're spending money on stuff you really don't want you would be better off going gray Market there's a lot to be said about building a relationship with an authorized dealer that doesn't hinge on how much money you spend.You would have to ask your authorized dealer how long ago it was when they had stock that they could sell to people that walked in off the street. I don't think those days will be coming back for many years. I remember my authorized dealer talking about when the Hulk first came out and they were wondering who in the world would buy that and they had them in their showcase for sale.

[Zach69SS]

Yes, always or as long as I can remember. The SS and some of the PMs too rare dial or color, all of them! Really.

Sometimes one of us gets very lucky and is allocated SS white or black?

Happy hunting!

[joli160]

The last 30 years or so you could not get a SS Daytona as a walk in customer.
I don’t think this will change anytime soon.

[Mr. Superlative]

I cannot recall a time anyone could walk in a buy a Daytona, black or white dial, certainly not in the last three decades.

[ArtNouveau]

The earliest Daytonas with manual wind Valjoux movements in the 70’s and 80’s were poor sellers. Circa 1988 the first automatic Daytona with a modified Zenith movement was an almost instant hit and the steel versions have been hard to get ever since. The first inhouse movement models arrived around 2000 and continued the trend, adding a ceramic bezel in 2016 really escalated the demand.
Over the last few years almost any Rolex became hard to get. That is gradually getting better but the Daytona will continue to be a “reward” piece from the dealer handed out to their preferred clients.
If that is the only model you want paying a reseller a premium is almost your only option. Almost zero chance an AD will sell you one as your first Rolex.

[Moondoggy]

1991, walk ins easy of multiple Daytonas in Las Vegas with discount if you were that inclined.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Since 89’, it was always the toughest one to get. But you could get them.

[Mercmanr]

If as you say you are new with no purchase history, you have less than zero chance of getting one from a AD. If its the only watch you want, unfortunately you have no choice but to go grey, and that's not going to change probably in your lifetime

[inadeje]

As many have already pointed out, basically from the introduction of the autowind Daytona with the Zenith movement, around 1988, the all stainless steel daytona has been difficult to obtain from an AD at retail price.

Other variants in both two tone gold and steel or precious metals have historically been much easier to buy at retail.

[hojlund]

it's possible, just be patient

[Oystersteel92]

Originally Posted by Mr. Superlative

I cannot recall a time anyone could walk in a buy a Daytona, black or white dial, certainly not in the last three decades.

2009 after Lehman Brothers failed was about the only time. First visit to my current AD at that time and they offered me one out of the vault as soon as I said "I like Rolex." They didn't know me from Adam.

The story goes that Rolex was limited in the number of Zenith movements they could procure and modify, so most of them went into higher margin 2-tone and 18K watches, hence the SS model was both the cheapest way to get one and also the least available, which makes sense because EVERY other model was available in abundance or could be ordered and obtained in 2 weeks at that time. With the rise of the internet and enthusiasts connecting from all over the globe, that idea that the SS Daytona was a rare and special piece was cemented and carried through even after Rolex started producing the 4130.

[travisb]

In more modern / recent times, yes but in the early years after it's introduction (before my days of collecting) the Daytona was a dog.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Jason Bourne

Since I’m quite new to Rolex game I have a question to experienced players.

Was there time when you could get Panda as a walk-in purchase? Or at least reasonable wait time?

If yes, will it ever come back? Cannot justify paying almost double premium.

Back before the automatic Zenith powered Daytona watches like the Daytona 6263 used a manual wind ETA Valjoux made movement and these were quite poor sellers but today command very very high prices.But when Rolex was using the auto Zenith movement in the Daytona from around 1989-1999 they started to take off, and when Zenith could not or would not supply Rolex with enough Zenith ebauche movements. Rolex had to make there first ever chronograph movement the cal 4130 way back in 2000.At launch the SS was hard to get at retail,and once the celebrities of those days started wearing them Daytona fever took off. And at this time after a few months you could buy the TT Daytona from a AD for what the SS version was bringing on the grey market.Now today the SS Daytona although having a fantastic movement its got to be the most hyped Rolex watch ever.But especially today hype sells watches as many buy the hype to wear it, and the grey market can charge crazy money for them as many today are willing to pay crazy grey prices.

[1William]

Always difficult.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by travisb

In more modern / recent times, yes but in the early years after it's introduction (before my days of collecting) the Daytona was a dog.

My thoughts too

I do remember when I bought my first Rolex (a SeaDweller 16600) back in 1992 the AD had a white dial Daytona in his display case.

[Joearch]

I can’t imagine the SS Daytona will ever be a walk in purchase at the AD.

[Tim Plains]

Originally Posted by Jason Bourne

Cannot justify paying almost double premium.

Obviously, nobody wants to but they do if they want the watch badly enough. Compare paying double retail and having the watch you want now vs. buying $100,000 worth of other merchandise and maybe getting a chance to buy it at MSRP.

As a newbie, buy grey or forget about this model.

[MILGAUSS88]

I remember there being a 2 year wait list back in 1990.
But who on earth would wait that long for a watch?

[123Blueface]

In 1994 when I purchased my first Rolex, a Rolesor DJ, AD had an SS Daytona on display for sale. Offered it to me and I turned it down as didn’t have the additional money.

[Tricolore66]

Always hard to get in stainless, but 2-tone watches were easily found in AD cases. There was a window at the end of the 116520 series that they could be delivered after fairly short wait time from AD's, or even found in stock (though rarely). Grey market premiums were only a couple of thousand dollars at that point.

[Hkspwrsche]

Originally Posted by joli160

The last 30 years or so you could not get a SS Daytona as a walk in customer.
I don’t think this will change anytime soon.

Exactly

[Hkspwrsche]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

Always hard to get in stainless, but 2-tone watches were easily found in AD cases. There was a window at the end of the 116520 series that they could be delivered after fairly short wait time from AD's, or even found in stock (though rarely). Grey market premiums were only a couple of thousand dollars at that point.

Yes, two tone are still much easier than stainless. Full gold oyster seem to be easier than stainless as well.

[huba01]

2005 a friend waited one year for the black dial 116520 in Hamburg and I waited almost two years for the white dial.

[Ravager135]

Since the 90s to the best of my recollection. I started collecting seriously in 2008 and I've never seen a stainless steel Daytona in an AD even when you could walk in, pick out which Submariner or GMT-Master you wanted from the case, and it would immediately be restocked with another from the safe.

[train-time]

NO! I can recall years ago when there was a waiting list for the 116520 steel Daytonas and sometime between 2010 and 2012 (I don't remember exactly) the demand seemed to be fulfilled, and they became available at AD's.

I recall walking into an AD to get a new bezel installed in my 16710 and while I was waiting, I glanced down at the case and there was a white dial 116520 sitting there. I discussed availability with the SA and ended up getting a 10% discount and put it on lay-a-way for 60 days with a $1000 deposit.

Shortly later I went to another AD to see about ordering an accessory for a Tudor watch from RUSA (prior to Tudor returning the US) and looked down in the case while waiting and there was a white and black dial 116520 sitting there for sale, so it did happen!

Rolex changed the model, added a ceramic bezel and the game started all over. Now will the demand eventually become saturated????

[watchwatcher]

My experience, yes.

I've done a LOT of window shopping and AD visits over the years, (way before current market conditions) and I've only ever seen one at an AD.

And that one was already sold.

[samson66]

I never tried to buy one but it seems like when the ceramic models were introduced is when things went totally nuts.

[jumpmaster 175]

I'm 53 years old. I remember going with my father as a kid to our local AD and them discussing the wait to get a Daytona.

Always difficult

IMHO not worth the hype..great watch but nowhere near worth 2x retail