My SS Daytona - A brief personal review

[Subexplorer]

Hi Nimrod and HPY!! Thank you for reading and for your kind comments.
Very cordially, Abel.

[cwilson13]

Enjoyed your review. Just bought a SS Daytona after owning a WG Daytona on strap for a few years. I agree with your point on wishing the band did not have a high-polish center. I find myself constantly wanting to shine all the smudges out.

[cursto]

Something keeps luring me back to this particular watch. I think this will indeed be my next Rolex timepiece!

[SWIMPRUF]

Nice review.

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by 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

Not bad... Mr. Rolex took one of your advices!!!

Muchos saludos.

[Johnnie]

good review

[perpetualman88]

I believe the V serial has the lastest clasp and bracelet

[mrloneranger]

Nice review, I do like the Daytona and agree on all your points on the improvements that could be made.
I wonder if Rolex ever read these forums...

[Jfbhd4]

Drool.. I love the daytona!

[Subexplorer]

Hello Friends! Thank you for your kind comments! I love to know that you read and enjoy this review.

Yes, it seems that Rolex reads these reviews, at least they agreed with the new ceramica bezel!!
Kind regards, Abel.

[Anna Tessa]

loved your review, haven't paid much though to the changes in the newer daytona's until i read this.

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by perpetualman88

I believe the V serial has the lastest clasp and bracelet

Hello Perpetualman88!
Yes, this watch is a V serial number. It came equipped with the previous style clasp/bracelet. This watch was bought at a local Rolex AD whose owner happens to be an old friend of mine, and he certified that this is the bracelet the watch came with from Rolex/Switzerland.

As a matter of fact, reading through several Forums, I learned that some watches of V serial came equipped with the old style clasp/bracelet as mine, before the change to the new clasp took effect in this same V series.

I guess this is correct with the usual Rolex philosphy of ending the stocks of a previous model accesory before putting in use a new change/version.

Thanks for your comment, and kind regards, Abel.

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by Anna Tessa

loved your review, haven't paid much though to the changes in the newer daytona's until i read this.

Hello Anna Tessa! Thank you so much for your comment. Glad my review was of your interest. Please note my comment in my post above, regarding the new type of clasp being presently used by this model.
Thank you again!
Best cordial regards, Abel.

[daytonafreak]

i love my daytona is my favorite even tho i have lots of rolex models in my collection

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by daytonafreak

i love my daytona is my favorite even tho i have lots of rolex models in my collection

Thank you for your comment Daytonafreak!! Well, your nick tells about your favourite time piece! Yes, it´s a great watch, with a lot of history behind.
Enjoy your Daytona Pal!! Kind regards, Abel.

[Ticking_Sonata]

nice post. my it's very easy to get scratch to the bezel because of the high polished, it makes the scrathes very visible.

[vb2011]

Thanks for the review. I agree with you that Rolex's dials are a tad busy, with too many words, numbers, markings AND the cyclops (for my GMT). That's why I won't wear my Rolex as a dress watch. It is great as a sports watch though :).

[Puffy]

Originally Posted by gabriel.sw9

nice post. my it's very easy to get scratch to the bezel because of the high polished, it makes the scrathes very visible.

Exactly and that's why i sold my Daytona two days ago.

while it's very comfortable and light as a feather, the polishedness and busy dial are too much of a headache. adding to this the chrono function is pretty useless

[Subexplorer]

Hello friends! Thanks for your kind comments, and I´m so glad you enjoyed my post!
Very cordially, Abel.

[dddrees]

I'm suprised I have not seen this before today.

Nice review Abel, thanks for sharing.

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by dddrees

I'm suprised I have not seen this before today.

Nice review Abel, thanks for sharing.

Thank you Dan! Glad you like it!! Thanks for your kind comment! Regards, Abel.

[Sparrky]

Just got a SS with black face. Love it. Wish it had a date though.

[psv]

Great review and observations, thanks for sharing.

I've never been a Daytona-devotee myself. I did own both the Zenith and current version in black dials - tried hard to really get into them - but neither did enough for me. Size and quality are great, so is the 'mystique' but I found them a bit too hard to read at a glance and on the busy side dial wise. I'm a less-is-more kind of guy. But still, it is a milestone and important watch so wear it in good health!

[goog53]

Spot on review!i think you were reading my mind. I currently on a Green Ceramic Sub and absolutely love it. I had a chance to purchase a White Daytona, but I did not care for the polished center links and shiny bezel. I'm hoping they release a new SS version this year with brushed links and ceramic bezel. Hopefully they keep the case size at 40mm. If they make it any bigger I'm buying a Vintage 6263

[vintagewaferthin]

The white dial ss Daytona is defiantly starting to grow on me. I normally am more attracted to the black dial ss Daytona but after seeing your wonderful pics and an equally great review Abel I am starting to like the white dial more and more.

[Mrpedigree]

They are all lovely watches ,but the daytona has gotta be there best model

[marshallr47]

Well done Abel. I enjoyed reading your review. I to fine the Daytona a classic regardless what others say.

[Subexplorer]

Hello friends!
Thank you so much for your kind comments.
It´s always so emjoyable to receive new comments about this post.
Love to share my points of views, and to know the similar (or different) thought of other Daytona lovers.
Mine keeps so accurate now, as when brand new, and I keep enjoying it on my wrist in a more or less regular basis.

Thank you again, and best cordial regards, Abel.

[*RCH*]

Enjoyable reading!

[Psmith]

Hi Abel - I enjoyed re-reading this review. Interesting that you mentioned the bezel perhaps being improved with a ceramic version. This is now happening to the Daytona line, so your words were prophetic!

Cheers

Clive