My SS Daytona - A brief personal review

[Subexplorer]

My Rolex SS Daytona -Ref 116520- (a short personal review)
What I like, what I don´t, what I would like.



Dear fellow members of TRF:

Having my new SS Daytona for several weeks now, in a daily basis, I dare to write a short report of my personal observations about this most beautiful watch.
I know that some great reports have been published in this Forum before, with more depth and in better technical approach (those from Tools and Space Dweller being my favorites) but anyway I thought it would be interesting to share my own feelings here.



Being a Rolex fan, and owner for more than 40 years, I´d been considering the purchase of the Daytona since some time, and the opportunity came to get one from a local AD whose owner happens to be an old friend of mine, having bought several watches for my family and for me previously.
He phoned me to tell that he had received two specimens from Rolex Argentina the day before. One black dial, and one white.
I visited my old friend a couple of days later.
It was rather difficult to decide between the black or the white face, because both are very nice indeed.
Finally, the white face won. The fact that I already have several watches with black faces (Rolex Sub and Explorer, Panerai and Omega) helped in this decision.

What I like

I love the overall looks of this watch. I find it elegant and sporty at the same time, a very rare quality I think. Its size is perfect: not too big for a sport watch, but not small either.
Then it is a little heavy, but anyway very comfortable to use all day long (I sleep and take daily showers with all my watches, except those equipped with leather bands).
My new watch being a V series one, came with the old style clasp, which I find very comfortable and secure.
As with all Rolex watches, they exude high quality: the polishing of the case, the quality of the dial, etc.. Everything looks carefully finished.
You wear a Daytona with pride!!

I find this watch extremely accurate, at least as for my expectations.
I put the watch in time with our local official radial signal, and check it again every week, against same source. It lost 30 seconds in 21 days. I guess it´s very good performance!



Due to my rather old eyes, and the silver color hands against the white face background, I find rather difficult to tell the time under some lightning conditions. May be a black faced Daytona is better in this aspect. But I find the white face lovely! I don´t regret my purchase!
By the other hand, I was gladly surprised at night by the high visibility of the Luminova indexes, once properly charged. The “charge” will last several hours, and I can clearly tell the time, in spite of the small size of its markers.




What I don´t completely like.

Plesase don´t misunderstand me: I´m completely satisfied with my Daytona. I love this watch, and have not taken it out of my wrist since I received it last January 22nd.

Just being a little picky, I would point some details I find in its design, that I would probably change if it were possible to me:
I have said in previous posts, that I feel that Rolex designers seem to like long wordings on the faces of their new versions of old designs.
This produces (in my humble opinion) cluttered dials, full of words, which detracts on the beauty of the dials; and the Daytona is no exception.



Take a view for example, to the classic look of first series of Cosmograph Daytonas produced in the sixties, and compare with today version.
Of course we all know that our Rolexes are “Superlative Chronometers Officially Certified” and we don´t need that to be remembered in our dials.
In any case, if Rolex wants this well written in their watches, why not engrave it on the rim of their case backs?
I think that a “cleaner” dial would greatly benefit the beauty this watch.

Another thing I find annoying, is the highly polished bezel, so shiny that it makes difficult to read the tachometric scale. I would prefer the brushed finish of the Explorer II bezel, or better yet, a black insert with white scale numerals. (May be a ceramic insert bezel?)



Regarding the bracelet, I don´t like the central links polished, nor the polishing of the upper part of lugs, which in previous Rolex had a satin polish treatment on both places.
Of course, its easy for an owner, to dull the central links, but I personally like to keep my things completely original, instead of customizing them; cars and watches included.
I love the traditional look of old time Oyster bracelets with their all satin finish.

Sumarizing. What I would like:

Though I´m highly satisfied with my new Daytona “as is”, being rather “picky” and in the very unprobable situation that Mr Rolex would ask (and accept) my suggestions and changes, those would be:

One: a black ceramic bezel with white scale, instead of the brilliant steel one.
Two: Less inscriptions under the Rolex brand and coronet. I already know very well that this watch is Superlative chronometer and officially certified. Put inscriptions on the back, like Omega does with its Great Speedmaster Pro.
Three: Go back to brushed steel center links and upper case, instead of high polish, just as in old time Rolexes.

Last but not least, what about offering some extra custom touches, like an actualized Paul Newman style of dials available to customers? (e.g. white face with less wording, and contrasting black little dials, or a black face with white little dials)
Keeping a tradition and heritage alive, would be great, don´t you think so?



Rolex got several watches which can be called “classics” without discussion: Date Just, Submariner, Explorer, etc..
The Cosmograph Daytona, is another classic indeed.
Owners can be proud of wearing a Daytona on their wrists, a beautiful watch with the colorful past of this Model, easily recognized, with a high reputation, a sought after icon of our time.

Thank you for your kind attention and for reading my review!
Very cordially, Abel

[walds11]

Nice review Abel. Makes me appreciate my SS Daytona white dial even more.

[Subexplorer]

Thanks for your comment Adam!!
Kind Regards, Abel

[sea-dweller]

Interesting info !

[Spaniard]

Nice watch...this is my next watch I'm getting.

[Fai17]

Nice personally review as i have considered purchasing this watch(if i could get hold of it!) before buying the Deep Sea.

Thanks

[Subexplorer]

Thanks for your kind comments!
It´s always a pleasure to share these personal thought with fellow Rolex fans!
Kind regards, Abel

[hennabav]

This is definitely the watch to get whether its pre-owned or brand new. I'm new to this forum and just recently purchased my first Rolex. So I am officially a proud owner of a Rolex. Although I bought a preowned 116520 black face, the watch is extremely flawless and the owner before barely wore it. On top of that, I got a decent price for it...although not the cheapest one on the market but fairly decent and was local. I went with the 116520 b/c it was highly regarded and the style is just timeless. Even though there have been several companies out there that try to replicate a similar design, nobody can really create just the same feel and look as the Rolex Daytona.

[voltrader66]

Abel, thanks for a great review. I have owned mine since October 2008 and I think though it is a great watch, there are a few things that I am not 100% happy with. Here goes in order of importance:
[1] No Date...this is seriously bugging me now.
[2] Polished surfaces have picked up a lot of scratches.
[3] The white dial sometimes appears way to white and dare i say it, tacky?
[4] My SS Submariner gets more attention than the SS Daytona.

Regards
VT66

[yannis]

Very good review and pics Abel!!

[Subexplorer]

Thanks for your comments and feedback!!
I appreciate your reading of my review!
Kind regards, Abel

[hflee55]

great review. i'm still waiting for mine.

[umster]

Abel, Excellent review, great reading....:)

Thank you

[Subexplorer]

Thank you so much Umster!! I sent you a reply by private message.
Best cordial regrds, Abel

[bewithabob]

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=34267

[He Man]

great review

[dro57]

Great review. The white faced Daytona is going to be my retirement watch in a couple of years. I've owned, Explorers, Subs, Bluesys and GMTs and now currently a TT DJ, but I heading towards the Daytona

[Jet]

Superb review!

[Bebot]

Thanks for the review. Now I need to pay attention to mine and compare notes.

[9166]

Would make this my next Rolex when I get enough money to pay for it. Better if Rolex puts a date to the Daytona.

[Paul7039]

Just received my SS Daytona -- I am even more excited to put it on after reading your review and viewing your photos.

[rayliz]

great personal and honest opinions...i hope to own this watch someday...

[gigibelloparis]

Thanks for your review Abel !
This will very probably be my next purchase ...

[Subexplorer]

Dear friends: Thank you for your kind comments. I´m delighted to know that you enjoyed my review.
Very cordially, Abel

[rpryan55]

An honest and well-written personal review, done with some excellent accompanying photographs. Well done, friend!

I share your feeling that the dial is cluttered, BTW.

[rfknauss]

Abel, thank you for the critique of your new watch!
Since I don't know much about Daytona watches, I found it very informative.

[Subexplorer]

Hello Rpryan455 and Rfknauss:
Thank you for your kind words, and I´m delighted to know you liked my review and found it informative. I´m glad to know other fellow member share same point of view about rather cluttered dials of present Rolex watches.

Anyway, the Daytona is a beautifully made watch, extremely precise, highly well finished, and with a long standing tradition behind. You can be proud to own one of them!

Thanks again! Very cordially, Abel

[vitix]

wow Abel, hace ya un año de esto!! esta excelente el review!! keep it up!!

[Subexplorer]

Gracias Victor!! Ciertamente, hace ya un año, y el entusiasmo por el Daytona sigue muy firme!
Gracias a los amigos que han reflotado este review mio, y espero que disfrutes tus Rolex, Tag y Panerai con mucha salud!
Muy cordialmente, Abel

[dalip]

nice review..you make some great points...
Personally I love my watch....just wish it was a bit bigger ...but that's me at the moment