Black Daytona 116500ln vs Speedmaster Calibre 321. What’s your pick?

[Babalaas]

This is a follow up to my earlier post where I request opinions to consolidate to a 3 watch collection. The hardest choice in that for me is deciding between the Black Daytona and the Ed White 321. What’s your pick and why?

[illiguy]

321 is simply more special in my view. I’d prefer it to the 116500LN Black.

[jcdevoe26]

Originally Posted by illiguy

321 is simply more special in my view. I’d prefer it to the 116500LN Black.

I agree with this. The daytona is an amazing automatic chronograph...but honestly it was still a mass produced piece that is not hard to come by (albeit grey market price is not worth it)....the 321 is made in much smaller quantities and just has something special about it...I love mine

[Deppe]

If you keep the black Daytona will you then have both the black and white? (With your other thread in mind). If so, I would keep the 321 and sell one of the Daytona’s, as I also understand that the Speedmaster is your favourite.

If the choice is between no Daytona and a 321 or a Daytona and no 321, then the choice, for me, gets more difficult.

[rmlovett1]

I like both. I happen to like Rolex more than Omega.
If I was in your scenario, for me it’d be the 116500

[1William]

Taking all the factors that matter to me-wear/looks/history/availability/quality and last but not least, price. I would go with the 321. A more special watch that is produced in less numbers that you can get for about 3/5th of the price of the SS Daytona-C in the secondary market.

[Michael1968]

Daytona

[travisb]

Daytona for me. I'm a long time owner and have a greater appreciation for the reference. Nothing against the 321 which I think is a greatly crafted chrono in itself.

[cornsyrup_bezel]

I think it depends on use case. As part of a collection 321 for all the reasons mentioned before and also to have a different bracelet(panda oyster, pepsi jubilee, 321 flat link). But if i needed something to wear all the time including swimming i would keep the daytona for the modern movement/casing and robustness that comes with that.I remember the fear the first time i reset the 321 chrono and the hands didn't all zero... luckily i just hadn't depressed the pusher hard enough. It was reminder that the 321 still is a vintage movement.

That being said i could never part with either.

[GB-man]

For me the Daytona but there’s an easy case to make for the 321. This hobby isn’t about rationalization.

[turfmanjon]

I’d keep your white Daytona and the 321 for a perfect Chrono combo. Daily and a special piece, white and black. Then keep one of your other pieces for some color, Sub or GMT.


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[Nico81]

Daytime would be my choice.
I had 321, fantastic watch also, but i was not a fan of fake patina


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[Nico81]

Originally Posted by illiguy

321 is simply more special in my view. I’d prefer it to the 116500LN Black.

From 1 foot away looks just another speedmaster version 4,671

Daytona is unmistakable


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[ratty]

I'm not keen on this model of the Daytona, so I'd keep the 321.

[Rollieo]

Originally Posted by Nico81

From 1 foot away looks just another speedmaster version 4,671

Daytona is unmistakable


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This.

I get the history of the 321. But when you redesign the watch you don’t go for a replication but a refresh while retaining elements of the original. It’s like the 911, Porsche doesn’t take the design from 50 years ago and just replicate it.

[Agamemnon]

Daytona

[kegan]

321

[sawhornsoff]

I’d keep the 116500ln black. It’s no longer produced.

[logo]

Originally Posted by Nico81

Daytime would be my choice.
I had 321, fantastic watch also, but i was not a fan of fake patina


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Unfortunately, sounds like you made a decision based on incorrect information. It’s not fake patina - the lume on 105.003 models had a yellow hue at baseline leaving the factory in 1964. So the new 321 is actually a recreation of what the 105.003 would have looked like new.

[JPizzzle]

Originally Posted by Nico81

From 1 foot away looks just another speedmaster version 4,671

Daytona is unmistakable


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I guess this implies that he should base his choice on recognizability by others?

OP, get what sings to you. I personally prefer the look of the 321 over the black Daytona. It has an amazing history and a world respected movement used by Patek, VC, Dubuis. It’s a connoisseur’s piece.

[6SpeedTA95]

Both of these come in several variations but as a general rule I think a couple of the Speedster combo's trump the Daytona. They're just beautifully built like the Daytona but look a bit better IMO, some of the variations and color ways are great too. Best of all you can actually get them. Not to mention Omega quality is bang on amazing for the price.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by JPizzzle

I guess this implies that he should base his choice on recognizability by others?

OP, get what sings to you. I personally prefer the look of the 321 over the black Daytona. It has an amazing history and a world respected movement used by Patek, VC, Dubuis. It’s a connoisseur’s piece.

I don't want to defend anyone, but I think we're referring to the aesthetics of the model, which doesn't differ much from the Speedmaster 42 mm.
Aesthetics are fundamental in a watch for me, so I confirm that I prefer the Daytona.

[TimeAZ]

Daytona, 100% and without doubt. Superior in case design, dimensions, bracelet, wearing experience, and overall aesthetic.


There was a time when I considered the Speedmaster (at the time I considered it as an affordable, attainable alternative and strictly a very distant 2nd place to the Daytona).... but, right around that time, Omega decided to debase their most storied and important model by releasing the Omega MoonSwatch. Why pay 4 or even 5 figures for a Speedmaster Moonwatch when you can get an Omega Speedmaster MoonSwatch for 250 bucks?

[DoricSpiker]

I would keep the 321. Its history on your wrist. The Daytona is a nice chronograph.

[6SpeedTA95]

Originally Posted by TimeAZ

Daytona, 100% and without doubt. Superior in case design, dimensions, bracelet, wearing experience, and overall aesthetic.


There was a time when I considered the Speedmaster (at the time I considered it as an affordable, attainable alternative and strictly a very distant 2nd place to the Daytona).... but, right around that time, Omega decided to debase their most storied and important model by releasing the Omega MoonSwatch. Why pay 4 or even 5 figures for a Speedmaster Moonwatch when you can get an Omega Speedmaster MoonSwatch for 250 bucks?

You can't be serious?"

Why buy a Rolex, Omega, Longines or even Tissot when a Timex will do?? It's a quartz homage made out of plastic. There's nothing even remotely close the actual Speedmaster going on with the MoonSwatch.

[alex.cicollo]

Originally Posted by Nico81

From 1 foot away looks just another speedmaster version 4,671

Daytona is unmistakable


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As a new 321 owner…. This is so true lol and I loooooooove my 321 by the way….. notwithstanding that fact, I guess I’d still stick to the 321 given history and manufacture process, and pair it with my (very white) Daytona.

[alex.cicollo]

Originally Posted by Rollieo

This.

I get the history of the 321. But when you redesign the watch you don’t go for a replication but a refresh while retaining elements of the original. It’s like the 911, Porsche doesn’t take the design from 50 years ago and just replicate it.

They didn’t, new see through case back and updated bracelet… minor adjustments to materials of the calibre. See full details below

https://www.fratellowatches.com/from...-special/#gref

[sambb]

speedy 110% - its an amazing timepiece

[Rollieo]

Originally Posted by alex.cicollo

They didn’t, new see through case back and updated bracelet… minor adjustments to materials of the calibre. See full details below

https://www.fratellowatches.com/from...-special/#gref

I understand it’s not a 1:1 replicate, but the design aesthetic is so similar that as others have said even people who have read articles about the differences and the differences between a 321 and a 3861 can’t tell the difference from a few feet away. The only notable difference is the bracelet.

I can attest, I’m a watch nerd that has read those articles, and the differences are so subtle visually that I either don’t remember or can’t see the difference when even looking at a picture of the watch like those above

[alex.cicollo]

Originally Posted by Rollieo

I understand it’s not a 1:1 replicate, but the design aesthetic is so similar that as others have said even people who have read articles about the differences and the differences between a 321 and a 3861 can’t tell the difference from a few feet away. The only notable difference is the bracelet.

I can attest, I’m a watch nerd that has read those articles, and the differences are so subtle visually that I either don’t remember or can’t see the difference when even looking at a picture of the watch like those above

Understood.