The Daytona Ghost

[Paulgt3]

I’ve been waiting for a Daytona since at least 2004
When I helped sponsor a 911 GT3Cup car team at LeMans
I found out all winners get a Daytona. I’ve always liked Rolex
but I loved the Daytona. I have had a couple GT3s and I still have
my last one. Well our team finished ok but I wouldn’t have got
anything but some sponsor swag had we won. But man I wanted
that watch. In 2006 I was working for the F35 program and the
program office commissioned 50 Breitling quartz watches with
the lightning II emblem on the watch so I bought one and that reignited
my interest in watches. I traded that watch for a Navitimer cosmonaut.
That turned me back to Rolex. But then I had some health issues with
my back. Two surgeries later and about a decade later I’d retired.
But we moved to Idaho and I was moving some 401k funds around and
I had some funds left over. So I go to my Rolex dealer in 2019 and ask
to buy a Daytona. After she got done laughing she said there’s a 7-10 year
wait. So I asked about a Sub and she said 3-7 year wait. So I was pretty frustrated so I called a 911 buddy to tell him what happened. He is a big
watch guy. Pateks Vacheron Rolex etc. He sold me his no date sub 114060
and it looked brand new. Then he helped me get a Batgirl but I still don’t
have a Daytona. So I got back 4 weeks ago because I heard Rolex redid
their lists. But I bought a Omega Speedmaster Racing and got re-established
on the Rolex list but she said they don’t even list Daytonas anymore.
So I said crap. But I thought the $16,000 steel Daytona was selling for
$38,000 so why go there? The Gold Daytonas are selling in the 38-40 range
So why pay 230% for a steel Daytona when you can get a Gold Daytona for
110%? So I bit the bullet and bought the 116519LN for 39k
And I’m just over the moon!! The only problem is I don’t know when to wear
it. It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. And the forge marks on the
back are so cool. There’s mint marks a St Bernard some Scales and the 18k
Mark. It has the Sunburst dial with black sundials.
I’ll post a picture when I figure out how.
It’s on the oyster flex band

[Paulgt3]

Sorry about the photo. My phone’s camera has exceeded the forum’s capabilities

[BigBlue1]

Awesome story. Congrats on the watch. It is beautiful

[Ftech1]

Congrats! How cool to be a sponsor of a team at LeMans!!

[77T]

Summed it up well. That is a great grey ghost and flies under the radar.

Now on the team Daytona Winner’s Watch quest, wouldn’t the X factor be something North of 800%?

And that’s per year until the team gets a class win…

I think you’ve done the right thing!


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[brandrea]

Congratulations Paul, I hope you enjoy it to the fullest

[scottsw]

So vintage

[Snowballs]

Beautiful, wow, congratulations!

[aduncan1]

Beautiful watch, congrats!

[justdreaming]

Beautiful story!! Congratulations!


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[faimag]

And that combination is among the best! Enjoy it!

[Rick Deckard]

Awesome watch and congrats on a once-in-a-lifetime purchase.

I am totally in love with the "Ghost"-dial, so here is what I did to combine my desire for a stainless steel "Ghost" Daytona:









I had to donate one of my black Daytonas for this experiment, but it turned out to be my personal grail watch.

Enjoy it!!!

[BNA/LION]

Look Fantastic! Enjoy!

[ol' Rex]

Beautiful!

In my opinion, the "grey ghost" is the best of the presently available dials for the Daytona. You definitely made the right decision.

[pavelachi]

Perfect!

[mimariani]

Awesome watch! Did you put the black face in the white gold?

[greybeard86]

Wow.. .nice dude!