10% off of a Daytona 116500 (story)

[schoolboy]

This morning, my girl and I went out for breakfast. As soon as I walked into the restaurant, I spotted an AP Royal Oak (the bracelet on those things shines like nothing else!)

A few minutes later, i looked over to the young man wearing the Royal Oak, and saw that the young man sitting across from him was wearing a white dial SS Ceramic Daytona.

Now I know a lot of you guys have collections worth $100k. I know a lot of you guys see 10 subs and 15 Datejusts on your way to work, but not me.

I rarely see “luxury watches” out in the wild. So I was excited.

When we finished eating, I decided to go over and compliment the young men regarding their watches.

At the table, it was the two young men, two women and an older gentleman.

I said “I just wanted to compliment you guys on your watches. Beautiful pieces. Have a nice day.”

The father of the young guys then says “hey, thanks man, nobody notices nice watches anymore!”

Then I noticed one of the ladies at the table was wearing a Yachtmaster!

Anyway, i replied “I’m slowly getting into watches, and it is so hard not to notice them when I see them out in the wild.”

We had a very nice conversation, he complimented my watch, and showed me his Ulysse Nardin watch

Super cool watch guy.

He also explained that he loved watches, he bought his Ulysse Nardin, the AP RO, the Yachtmaster and the Daytona himself and gave them to his kids and wife.

I asked him the million dollar question. “So how were you able to buy that Daytona? I hear they are very hard to get.”

He laughed and said “have your heard of the Paul Newman Daytona auction?”

“Yes”

“Well I bought it before that auction, for 10% off! Back then, dealers couldn’t get rid of those darned things.”

I explained how cool that is and how right now those watches supposedly sell for upwards of $24k.

He said he has no idea, but doesn’t care, because nobody is selling any of his watches hahaha (not even the ones he gave to his kids)

Just wanted to share.

Happy Thursday everyone.

[Director EDTF]

Very nice story! Thanks for sharing.

[exador]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

“Well I bought it before that auction, for 10% off! Back then, dealers couldn’t get rid of those darned things.”

He's pulling your chain. The 11650 was a hot commodity and in short supply the moment it was announced.

[05carbondrz]

Daytona’s have been difficult to get at MSRP for Years so His Story doesn’t add up.

[42itus]

Great story!

I'll give you the opposite end of the spectrum. I complimented a guy with an AP RO at a sushi bar once and he looked at my watch (I was wearing a Hamilton that day) before he replied. He just gave me a half smile and said thanks. lol.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by exador

He's puling your chain. The 11650 was a hot commodity and in short supply the moment it was announced.

Indeed. I’d be highly skeptical of 10% off

[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

Daytona’s have been difficult to get at MSRP for Years so His Story doesn’t add up.

This.. D500 has been impossible to get since the early morning it was announced.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Director EDTF

Very nice story! Thanks for sharing.

Welcome!

[Goldnlivin]

Its never been easy to get the 116500 at MSRP via AD..... looks like the father has some buying power and has good relationships. Maybe he’s not hip to the secondary market being that he’s known where he goes and gets allocated what he wants/when he wants. Some people aren’t troubled by the regular folks waiting period so perhaps he’s just having fun :-)

[watchmework]

Cool story, thanks for sharing

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by exador

He's puling your chain. The 11650 was a hot commodity and in short supply the moment it was announced.

Really???

I remember reading a New York Times article that was titled “the watch money can’t buy” so I have heard both sides of the story

That they used to be cheap, and that nobody could get one from the start (like the article explains)

So I don’t know what is true haha

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by 42itus

Great story!

I'll give you the opposite end of the spectrum. I complimented a guy with an AP RO at a sushi bar once and he looked at my watch (I was wearing a Hamilton that day) before he replied. He just gave me a half smile and said thanks. lol.

Dang, that’s messed up haha

I do notice every time I compliment someone on their watch, they usually look at my wrist too

A couple of days ago I complimented a guy that was wearing a two tone champagne dial Datejust

He looked at mine and just said thanks as well

Lol

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Indeed. I’d be highly skeptical of 10% off

I fell for it

[BillA]

Agree with another poster, old dude is pulling your chain.

[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

Really???

I remember reading a New York Times article that was titled “the watch money can’t buy” so I have heard both sides of the story

That they used to be cheap, and that nobody could get one from the start (like the article explains)

So I don’t know what is true haha

Right before the 116500 was introduced, the 116520 cold be had for somewhere around MSRP. When the 116500 was announced in 2016 it about broke the Rolex internet and was the start of the chaos we're dealing with right now.

[Seekthefinest]

I actually was able to get a D500 white dial at a discount about 18 months ago. A personal connection was involved, as my wife is a doctor and the AD was a patient, but most importantly I explained that I was buying the watch to commemorate the birth of our first son and the plan was to hand it down when he was old enough. I told them I was interested in either the black (preferred) or white dial Daytona and they told me they would be able to get me one in about a year. At the time they had about 30 people on the list. Three weeks after going in to express my initial interest I got the call that a white dial had come in and if I wanted it, it was mine. I said SOLD and surprisingly they offered it at a $700 discount to retail. Didn't ask, didn't expect any discount and was able to charge it to save another $250. Can't believe that 18 months later the market value is $24-$25k.

[sillo]

Originally Posted by RJRJRJ

This.. D500 has been impossible to get since the early morning it was announced.

Yup.

A discount for the 116520 maybe at the end of production.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by BillA

Agree with another poster, old dude is pulling your chain.

I’m not saying I disagree with you guys, but I don’t understand why he would lie?

Maybe he bought it gray and was shy to admit he had to pay a premium?

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Seekthefinest

I actually was able to get a D500 white dial at a discount about 18 months ago. A personal connection was involved, as my wife is a doctor and the AD was a patient, but most importantly I explained that I was buying the watch to commemorate the birth of our first son and the plan was to hand it down when he was old enough. I told them I was interested in either the black (preferred) or white dial Daytona and they told me they would be able to get me one in about a year. At the time they had about 30 people on the list. Three weeks after going in to express my initial interest I got the call that a white dial had come in and if I wanted it, it was mine. I said SOLD and surprisingly they offered it at a $700 discount to retail. Didn't ask, didn't expect any discount and was able to charge it to save another $250. Can't believe that 18 months later the market value is $24-$25k.

Wow, huge congrats to you

Specially because you’re not buying it to flip. I feel like you are the customer most ADs are looking for.

Enjoy it!

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

I asked him the million dollar question. “So how were you able to buy that Daytona? I hear they are very hard to get.”

He laughed and said “have your heard of the Paul Newman Daytona auction?”

“Yes”

“Well I bought it before that auction, for 10% off! Back then, dealers couldn’t get rid of those darned things.”

edit - Ok I read one more time. Got it now but this is weird.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by FTX I

First I thought the gentleman bought the paul newman daytona, then I understood he got the ceramic Daytona with a 10% discount, which is harder to believe than someone buying a PN daytona, and Sean said 116520 and that was not on the scene. I'm not drunk so I need to improve my reading skills.

Sorry Flavio, it might be my writing

Dude said he bought a 116500 for a discount before the sale of the PN Daytona.

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

Sorry Flavio, it might be my writing

Dude said he bought a 116500 for a discount before the sale of the PN Daytona.

lol not at all buddy. I read one more time and just that part is strange but nice story. Thanks for sharing.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by FTX I

lol not at all buddy. I read one more time and just that part is strange but nice story. Thanks for sharing.

Eh, I thought it was an amazing story, but now I realize that maybe I was just lied too

Whatever, it was still a cool encounter.

The guys wife was excited to talk watches too, she was the one wearing the Yachtmaster.

The two young guys, one wearing the Royal Oak and the other wearing the Daytona, didn’t seem to be into watches.

They kinda just say there eating while dad and I nerded out a bit

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

The two young guys, one wearing the Royal Oak and the other wearing the Daytona, didn’t seem to be into watches.

Life is unfair

[inadeje]

Sorry to say OP, the guy wasn’t being entirely truthful. Daytona Ceramic hasn’t ever been available with a discount, which renders the rest of the story rather dubious.

[jguerra04]

I can assure you never in the 3yr history of the 116500 have any AD’s struggled to sell these. Possible you were looking at an 116520 but even those were always fairly hard to acquire as well.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by jguerra04

Possible you were looking at an 116520 but even those were always fairly hard to acquire as well.

No not at all. I was about 3 feet away from it and I could see the ceramic bezel and black rings around the subdials (white dial Daytona)

Anyway, idk why he would’ve told me that story.

[richard371]

Im calling BS on the 116500 at a discount. Most people are lucky if they only had to wait a year when it was released. "Well I bought it before that auction, for 10% off! Back then, dealers couldn’t get rid of those darned things." Complete lie sorry. This may have applied to the Daytonas back in the 80s. Maybe I read it wrong but impossible for the 116520/116500s

[watchtung]

Impossible. Daytona’s especially steel have basically been very hard to get for the better part of 5 years or more. He is probably too embarrassed to say he paid double for it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

He laughed and said “have your heard of the Paul Newman Daytona auction?”

“Yes”

“Well I bought it before that auction, for 10% off! Back then, dealers couldn’t get rid of those darned things.”

this is what you should have said


October 2017 the WL was a mile deep as it was at launch in 2016. If anything the Rolex craze which was in full effect by the time of the auction helped to push that sales price even higher of the PN not the other way around where the auction all of a sudden made the daytona C more desirable