The Quest for the Steel Daytona
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is a chronometer watch with cronograph functions, known by many people thanks to Paul Newman, and probably the most sought after watch.
And particularly, the Daytona I am talking about is the stainless steel model, or for the connoisseurs, the ref. 116520 (or the ref. 16250 for the luckiest, with a Zenith El Primero movement).
The trouble with the stainless steel Daytona is that there exists a long waiting list in every authorised dealer, and it may take up to at least 2 years to get one.
It has a list price of EUR 6,750, but its price in the black market may well surpass EUR 9,000, and even double its price. Some people even say they have been offered one for more than its list price off the record at an authorised dealer (which is illegal).
So, why doesn't Rolex produce more steel Daytonas, and there's always a yellow gold and a white gold Daytona in every AD?
That's an interesting question. First of all, this is great publicity. And second, maybe people who don't want to wait ends up buying the EUR ~15,000 steel+white gold or the EUR ~21,000 white gold models.
I have been in the waiting list of my usual authorised dealer for some time now, with no luck at all. Some AD's get as less as one or two steel Daytonas a year, with a waiting list of more than 10 people.
With this in mind, I have started to write myself on the list of an authorised dealer in every city I go with reasonable flight connections.
Some people who were on lists have finally given up or have bought one in the black market. I think, however, that after all this time pursuing a steel Daytona from an AD, it wouldn't be the same (apart from the extra couple of thousands) to buy it from the black market. Half of the happiness having a steel Daytona comes from finally buying it at its list price from an AD, after some years of waiting.
And particularly, the Daytona I am talking about is the stainless steel model, or for the connoisseurs, the ref. 116520 (or the ref. 16250 for the luckiest, with a Zenith El Primero movement).
The trouble with the stainless steel Daytona is that there exists a long waiting list in every authorised dealer, and it may take up to at least 2 years to get one.
It has a list price of EUR 6,750, but its price in the black market may well surpass EUR 9,000, and even double its price. Some people even say they have been offered one for more than its list price off the record at an authorised dealer (which is illegal).
So, why doesn't Rolex produce more steel Daytonas, and there's always a yellow gold and a white gold Daytona in every AD?
That's an interesting question. First of all, this is great publicity. And second, maybe people who don't want to wait ends up buying the EUR ~15,000 steel+white gold or the EUR ~21,000 white gold models.
I have been in the waiting list of my usual authorised dealer for some time now, with no luck at all. Some AD's get as less as one or two steel Daytonas a year, with a waiting list of more than 10 people.
With this in mind, I have started to write myself on the list of an authorised dealer in every city I go with reasonable flight connections.
Some people who were on lists have finally given up or have bought one in the black market. I think, however, that after all this time pursuing a steel Daytona from an AD, it wouldn't be the same (apart from the extra couple of thousands) to buy it from the black market. Half of the happiness having a steel Daytona comes from finally buying it at its list price from an AD, after some years of waiting.
