Should I have original dial put back in Zenith Daytona?

[ZuluTime]

Long time reader, this is my first post.

I bought an E series Daytona in 1991 which came with a white dial.

I went to Rolex in Paris and had it replaced with a black dial in the late 90s, and they kindly let me keep the original.

With my years growing and vision deteriorating, and with the watch not having been serviced in ten years, I was going to have the original dial put back in.

Common sense tells me the watch is more valuable with its original dial, but there are so many minutiae collectors look for, and I want to make sure I’m not missing something obvious.

Am I being foolish by having the original white dial put back in the next time the watch is serviced?

-zt

[indianmachine]

if you're going to sell it then I'd put the original back in, otherwise keep in whichever you like.

[brandrea]

Welcome to the forum and beautiful Reference

I’d put that white dial back on in a heartbeat

[swaini3]

Originally Posted by indianmachine

if you're going to sell it then I'd put the original back in, otherwise keep in whichever you like.

this

[Tools]

As long as you have, and keep in good condition, the original dial, you have no "value" issues.

Have the watch configured however you prefer, there is no wrong choice.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by tools

as long as you have, and keep in good condition, the original dial, you have no "value" issues.

Have the watch configured however you prefer, there is no wrong choice.

+1

[joli160]

Whichever you prefer, just don’t mess up the spare dial

[INC]

Originally Posted by ZuluTime

Am I being foolish by having the original white dial put back in the next time the watch is serviced?

Why? Just because you want to revert your watch to factory setup? Not at all.

In addition, I also agree with you that the best and most practical time to do this could be the next service visit. 2 in 1

[1William]

Both dials are OEM and as long as you have both I do not see an issue with either you prefer. I also don't think it impacts the value negatively, as a matter of fact, the extra dial may add value.

[shockdoctrine]

if you want to sell, the invert 6 dial will get you a lot more money. for wearing, whichever dial you like to look at.

[swish77]

Use whatever dial is your preference, but I'd go for originality.

Also, note that swapping dials in and out of watches has its risks, even for the best watchmakers. Pulling the hands on a Daytona can be tricky, and dial edges (and other areas) can get nicked. It's not like changing your sweater. Best to leave it alone when possible.

[PepsiBezel]

Originally Posted by swish77

Use whatever dial is your preference, but I'd go for originality.

Also, note that swapping dials in and out of watches has its risks, even for the best watchmakers. Pulling the hands on a Daytona can be tricky, and dial edges (and other areas) can get nicked. It's not like changing your sweater. Best to leave it alone when possible.

It does look like the hands may have been swapped for super luminova versions when the black dial was installed.

[ZuluTime]

Originally Posted by HarryFlashman

It does look like the hands may have been swapped for super luminova versions when the black dial was installed.

This kind of insight is exactly why I posted. I was unfortunately not given the option to keep the originals. This was a picture I took with the black dial after exposed to a flashlight.

[Stan Cooper]

OP, from your comment about your deteriorating vision, it sounds like you might think you'd benefit from changing the dial back to the white original. Since you have both dials, there's no downside with respect to its value if you decide to sell it in the future.

I'm eighty and understand deteriorating vision with advancing age. I'd have the white dial reinstalled.

[ZuluTime]

Thank you all for responses. Going to go back to white dial.

Are the watch hands different from black dial to white dial on these watches?

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by ZuluTime

Thank you all for responses. Going to go back to white dial.

Are the watch hands different from black dial to white dial on these watches?

Same hands

[swish77]

Originally Posted by ZuluTime

This kind of insight is exactly why I posted. I was unfortunately not given the option to keep the originals. This was a picture I took with the black dial after exposed to a flashlight.

Originally Posted by ZuluTime

Are the watch hands different from black dial to white dial on these watches?

The style of the hands is the same, but in your case the lume is different. When you had the black luminova dial installed, the RSC must have also installed luminova hands.

Now, when you go back to the tritium white dial, it'll be a mismatch with the luminova hands. Not the worst thing in the world, but that would bug me. You could always try to track down a set of tritium hands.

[dhknola]

I would sell as is with the white dial as part of the deal.

[TimeLord2]

As Swish pointed out it will be a mismatch. That said, if you go all tritium, as on the original dial with tritium hands, there will be no luminescence at all, a consideration if you are going for legibility.

[GTS Dean]

The black dial Daytona with narrow white gold hands is a real problem to read the time on at night. The faceted hands just swallow up light like a black hole. Silver on white is probably somewhat better, but you'll still have contrast issues.

This combo solves all those problems: