Daytona owners: on dials and dates

[logo]

Just a question out of curiosity for Daytona owners. Do you find the dial difficult to read and do you miss having a date complication? I love the look of all Daytonas but have always worried about those two things, as I do check the date on my watch multiple times per day currently, and in photos the dial can sometimes look busy. I have no plans to buy another watch currently, but I’m just curious to hear the experience of others.

[sco]

Those two issues plus the cost have kept me away personally. With that said, people here seem to love the watch, so maybe after wearing it for a bit those factors would fade away for me.

[SG56]

As a new Daytona owner, I'll confirm.
I miss the date and it's nothing for old eyes lol

The watch though is visually so pleasing and well balanced, extremely comfortable and plain gorgeous, that I'm learning to adjust.

[dcash0615]

No date function on the Daytona isn’t an issue for me. However, I have other Rolex in my collection that have a date function that I rotate with. The black dial is definitely harder to read than white for me.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by logo

Just a question out of curiosity for Daytona owners. Do you find the dial difficult to read and do you miss having a date complication? I love the look of all Daytonas but have always worried about those two things, as I do check the date on my watch multiple times per day currently, and in photos the dial can sometimes look busy. I have no plans to buy another watch currently, but I’m just curious to hear the experience of others.

I can read the white dial just fine and the watch does not need a date

[Chiboy]

I will admit to putting on readers if I really need to see the nitty gritty while using the chrono, and check the date on my phone if necessary. Neither are deal killers for me, and I have learned to allow the sheer beauty of the thing make up for its practical shortcomings.

[m j b]

I occasionally finding myself looking at the watch and doing my Homer Simpson impersonation ("Doh!") when I realize that there's no date. But I have calendars, and a phone, and I can always ask someone...

The hard to read factor is getting easier to deal with as I get used to the watch. It's a timeless classic gorgeous watch, well worth the few shortcomings.

[mrporter]

Yep miss the date function. But I got my gmt for that, which I always take when traveling.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[aleeboy]

Yes, the dial is difficult to read and is very cluttered.

No, I don't need a date.

[rmlovett1]

I think the watch is gorgeous without the date, and I think a date window would be very hard to fit on the dial without ruining the aesthetics. That being said....I wish it had one, because that’s the only complication I truly use on a daily basis.
It’s one of my most favorite pieces, but I’m wearing it less and less these days :(

[GSDLover]

Originally Posted by richris1

i think the watch is gorgeous without the date, and i think a date window would be very hard to fit on the dial without ruining the aesthetics. That being said....i wish it had one, because that’s the only complication i truly use on a daily basis.
It’s one of my most favorite pieces, but i’m wearing it less and less these days :(

x2

[ROLEXster]

No Date - no problem
My iPad / iPhone is always nearby
One less thing to set
More stealthy due to no Cyclops

Legibility is fine with me.
Certain angles and lighting can be difficult at times

Very comfortable to wear.
Fits under shirt sleeve very well.

[2nastie]

I don't have any legibility issues, but I can see where that may occur with age.

At the same time I'm usually subconsciously aware of what the time roughly should be or approximately the amount of time that has passed since I looked at my watch last... I mainly glance at the watch and my eyes would tend to deviate to approximately where I think the time should be... the eyes more or else pin points the exact minute. If that makes any sense...

And when I'm holidays, I may be wearing a watch, but I don't really use it to check the time.

...

I personally have zero use for a date function... but contradictory enough... the date is also very important to me with my profession. Because of it's importance I'm always aware of what the date is as soon as I check my calendar/schedule/agenda in the morning. I don't need my watch to tell me that and it actually confuses me more either resetting it or switching from watch to watch.

I prefer the watch without it based on my thought process haha. And I hate how it throws off the symmetry of the piece. And even more so the busyness it would add to a chronograph watch + a Daytona which has a lot of text and other elements going on.

[AH0RSEY]

I've been lucky enough to have had a 116520 black face and also a 116523 Champagne.... now have a 116500LN White and a Black/Red Racing dial WG 116509.

Easiest to read is the 116500LN white, worse was 116520 Black.... but this is my favorite and easy to read - and no I don't miss dates, thats easy I add 1 to the day before ! today is 19095.

[Old Geezer]

I have a black Daytona C. I don't have any issues reading the time at a glance. As for the date, I occasionally glance at the watch looking for the date out of habit but it hasn't detracted from the pleasure I get wearing it.

[bobernet]

No legibility problems (RGP contacts are amazing)
Definitely miss the date

[t65tampa]

No legibility issues for me (black dial w/ champagne counters). Yeah, there's a lot going on with the dial, so I'm not sure where they'd be able to squeeze a date and Cyclops in to the watch and make it look too busy.

I love the watch. I've had two stainless 116520 models (black and white), a couple of the yellow gold 116528 models, and an 18K/SS 116523 model. I currently have a yellow gold 116508 and that watch is in my collection to stay. It will go to my oldest son as I bought it with him and he picked it out with me.

[illini675]

I've never once looked at the dial of my 116520 and not been able to instantly know the time. Maybe my eyes are too young.

Reading the chrono dials? Different story... but who actually does that?

I don't personally miss the date, but in truth 3 of my 5 total watches do not have a date, so I'm sure its just that I'm used to keeping the date in mind or checking a phone if I happen to need it.

[Jakey]

I own the white dial and can report zero issues in terms of reading the time. Date function goes unnoticed. I have the date on my other watches and cant say I notice not having it on the Daytona.

[WBA_Daytona]

I don't miss the date at all and I find the Daytona very easy to read. As a result, I have 3 of them :)

[RHIII]

I’ve never found any of my Daytona dials hard to read - and couldn’t care less about the date function. Have watches with and without and don’t mind it, but don’t need it either.

And...having and wearing a Daytona isn’t all about telling time.

I don’t need(or wear) a watch to just tell the time - I’ve got all kinds of gadgets, everywhere around me to do that for me - I wear watches because I like them!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[illini675]

Originally Posted by RHIII

I’ve never found any of my Daytona dials hard to read - and couldn’t care less about the date function. Have watches with and without and don’t mind it, but don’t need it either.

And...having and wearing a Daytona isn’t all about telling time.

I don’t need(or wear) a watch to just tell the time - I’ve got all kinds of gadgets, everywhere around me to do that for me - I wear watches because I like them!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh, you get it

[landroverking]

I prefer chronographs without a date. Also like manual wind.

[KBM]

Originally Posted by Richris1

I think the watch is gorgeous without the date, and I think a date window would be very hard to fit on the dial without ruining the aesthetics. That being said....I wish it had one, because that’s the only complication I truly use on a daily basis.
It’s one of my most favorite pieces, but I’m wearing it less and less these days :(

I tend to agree on the fact that a date would make this watch a completely different piece, so it's a well accepted "sacrifice" for the perfect balance and aesthetics.


That being said, I've never missed the date while wearing either of mine. The white dial ceramic has good legibility, my black dial steel bezel not so much.

[Jshwarms]

Not hard to read, but I do miss having the date. That is the main reason I wear my Hulk during the workweek over the Daytona.

[LooseCann0n]

No legibility issues here either. White dial 500C
Date would be good but have calendars/computers/iPhones nearby. Date would ruin the symmetry.
Not a fan of cyclops.
Also have other Rolex with dates.

[sensui]

Maybe only my 116520 in black with certain lighting....I don't have trouble reading my other Daytonas. Date has never been an issue.

[rolexero]

As an owner, I find the legibility low and no date to be an inconvenience. So I personally see the Daytona as more of a special occasion dress watch that's easy to set and go. For daily use I need something with a date and simpler, more legible dial, usually GMT or Sub.

[RJRJRJ]

No issue reading the time (white 500), don't really use the chrono, so I don't really care about that. I do miss the date, but the other day I wanted to wear it for a little while, and the fact that I knew I could just grab it and set the time in 2 seconds was nice.

[logo]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Seems the consensus is that the white dial Daytona might be the best for legibility. Also seems the lack of date function, while potentially inconvenient if the watch is a daily, is easily made up for by the ability to quickly set the time and have a visually appealing balance on the dial. Overall, sounds like a great evening/weekend timepiece for almost anyone!