The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 15 February 2023, 02:30 PM   #1
3omar
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2022
Location: United States
Posts: 61
Why Isn't the Daytona Sapphire Crystal Flush with the Bezel?

I happen to love the design of the Daytona, from the size to the overall proportions, to the dial layout. But... Something that I have always wondered is whether the watch would look more elegant and more aesthetically pleasing, if the sapphire crystal was flush with the bezel, instead of sticking out so much. I understand that the crystal needs to be a certain thickness, and that there is a rehaut underneath, etc. I am not suggesting that the crystal could somehow be pushed lower. Rather, I am wondering if the watch could have been designed differently, so that the crystal could be sunk in more.

From the side, the crystal reminds me of super thick prescription eyeglasses. Nothing wrong with prescription eyeglasses, I happen to wear a pair myself, but IMO this look doesn't quite belong on the Daytona. Anyone else feel the same way?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1.jpg (158.9 KB, 493 views)
3omar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 03:01 PM   #2
jb335
2024 Pledge Member
 
jb335's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: The States
Watch: Cosmograph Daytona
Posts: 7,385
It’s a fair question and I’m sorry to have no answers for you but I love the raised crystal. Part of the Daytona charm. Yes, I’m an unapologetic Daytona fanboy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
jb335 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 03:40 PM   #3
EvelynWaugh
"TRF" Member
 
EvelynWaugh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 417
I think it looks good like this. Is that a 116520?
EvelynWaugh is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 03:41 PM   #4
ArtNouveau
2024 Pledge Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NWA, USA
Watch: BLRO/Daytona/OP41s
Posts: 5,293
It’s the aesthetic, you either like it or you don’t. The case would have to be thicker to have it inset and that would spoil its thin fit that people rave about. I’ve had four SS Daytonas with both steel and ceramic bezels and and never damaged a crystal so I don’t see a functional issue either.
ArtNouveau is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 03:43 PM   #5
Polyesterpig
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: California
Posts: 186
I do wish it had a larger bevel on the crystal.
__________________
Time wounds all heals - faster on motorcycles
Polyesterpig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 03:45 PM   #6
logo
"TRF" Member
 
logo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: North America
Posts: 2,347
This is a design characteristic on Daytonas since the 60s and speedmasters since the 50s. Nostalgia is why it’s like that today.
logo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 04:10 PM   #7
al7391z
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Allentown, PA
Posts: 254
Quote:
Originally Posted by artnouveau View Post
it’s the aesthetic, you either like it or you don’t. The case would have to be thicker to have it inset and that would spoil its thin fit that people rave about. I’ve had four ss daytonas with both steel and ceramic bezels and and never damaged a crystal so i don’t see a functional issue either.
+1
al7391z is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 07:39 PM   #8
JSolution
"TRF" Member
 
JSolution's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Real Name: Jay
Location: England
Watch: SkyD
Posts: 6,398
Aren’t they all?
JSolution is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 07:50 PM   #9
shammad10
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 892
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSolution View Post
Aren’t they all?
Ye that's what I was thinking. Every Rolex I have has a slightly raised crystal.
shammad10 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 07:54 PM   #10
omar-rye
"TRF" Member
 
omar-rye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Underground
Posts: 2,580
Every modern Rolex without a rotating bezel has a raised crystal
omar-rye is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 07:58 PM   #11
Old Expat Beast
TRF Moderator & 2024 SUBMARINER Patron
 
Old Expat Beast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Adam
Location: Far East
Watch: Golden Tuna
Posts: 28,750
Yeah, it's a Rolex thing and doesn't really look great, IMO, except on the Milgauss GV with that electric green glow it gives off. Makes it easier to get chipped, too.
__________________
_______________________
Old Expat Beast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 08:23 PM   #12
omar-rye
"TRF" Member
 
omar-rye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Underground
Posts: 2,580
Quote:
Originally Posted by omar-rye View Post
Every modern Rolex without a rotating bezel has a raised crystal

Correction: GMT ceramic have it as well




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
omar-rye is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 08:54 PM   #13
Driver8
"TRF" Member
 
Driver8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 2,874
I have no answer as to why it's raised on models like the Daytona, other than a desire to keep the case as thin as possible, but one slight added bonus (especially on your Daytona, OP, with the steel bezel) is that the raised sapphire helps to protect the bezel from scratches.

Obviously on dive models it's a little more understandable as the crystal needs to be thick by design, but other than that I think it's just a design aesthetic. And personally I love it!
__________________
Rolex - 116710BLNR : 116610LN : 116622 : 116334 : 14060M
(Plus - Glashutte Original, Breitling, Omega, IWC, Tag Heuer, Doxa, Sinn, Seiko, G-Shock + micros)
Driver8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 08:55 PM   #14
brandrea
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
brandrea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 77,326
Visual interest IMO.
brandrea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 09:31 PM   #15
Osmin
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Germany
Posts: 454
My Daytona has it, my Sub has it, my DJ has it.
So why should the Daytona bei different?
I also like it aesthetically
Osmin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 February 2023, 11:58 PM   #16
DaytonaAllDay
"TRF" Member
 
DaytonaAllDay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Real Name: Chris
Location: Dallas
Watch: All Daytonas
Posts: 163
Protects the bezel from impact as the sapphire would likely get hit first.
DaytonaAllDay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 12:12 AM   #17
rolexgs
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: canada
Posts: 460
i like the way it is now.
rolexgs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 12:32 AM   #18
77T
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 41,782
Why?

Well the crystal is as thick as it needs to be for strength plus some moderate deflection needed in 10bar environment.

So the “why” has more to do with the bezel methinks.

Rolex could have milled a thicker bezel on the Daytonas that have a metal one vs ceramic bezel. But do not hold your breath getting to the why’s with the Rolex design team.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 01:16 AM   #19
kegan
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Anchorage Alaska
Posts: 604
Because to make the watch functionally the same with the crystal flush to the case/ bezel would almost certainly require the watch to look hideous.
kegan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 01:39 AM   #20
swish77
2024 Pledge Member
 
swish77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Real Name: Aaron
Location: CT/NYC
Watch: ing the time!
Posts: 6,954
Yeah, a raised crystal looks terrible on a Daytona.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Daytona Crystal-TRF.jpg (288.7 KB, 190 views)
swish77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 01:57 AM   #21
Cliffnopus
"TRF" Member
 
Cliffnopus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2022
Real Name: Clifford
Location: Foxboro, MA
Watch: Rolex 126621 Yacht
Posts: 196
In reading this post, I just had to check my TTYM and noticed that it too has a raised crystal. Looks to be about 1/64th inch above the bezel. Huh...never noticed it.

My 126621 Rolex 3.jpg
__________________
-------------------------------------------------
You'll never find a motorcycle in front of a shrinks office.
Cliffnopus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 02:08 AM   #22
3omar
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2022
Location: United States
Posts: 61
Thank you for the replies. And yes, I have the 116520 for those who asked.

Everyone seems to be thinking that I am proposing some sort of thickening of the bezel, or larger beveling of the crystal. But couldn't Rolex have kept everything exactly the same size and shape, and moved the crystal, rehaut, dial and movement down by a bit to make the crystal flush with the bezel? Of course, the case back would have to bulge out by the same amount, but the watch would still be the same overall thickness as now. And I doubt that it would wear that differently on the wrist with a slightly more pronounced case back...

This is a purely theoretical design discussion, obviously, but I find it to be interesting.
3omar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 02:21 AM   #23
Hardtimes
2024 Pledge Member
 
Hardtimes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: USA
Watch: 118238
Posts: 831
I dont know but I like it like that..
Hardtimes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 03:03 AM   #24
KdPg
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 110
I like it better now
KdPg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2023, 03:15 AM   #25
mgsooner
"TRF" Member
 
mgsooner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Real Name: Matthew
Location: Tulsa, OK, USA
Posts: 1,945
The first gen ceramic Subs (not sure about the GMTs) have crystals that are flush with the rotating bezel. The current gen Subs have a raised crystal.
__________________
|Rolex Submariner 114060|
|Rolex Datejust 126234 silver|
|Grand Seiko SBGT021 day-date quartz|
mgsooner is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Wrist Aficionado

Asset Appeal

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

My Watch LLC

OCWatches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.