Doug, can you get me in on that order? Did you have to wait in a waiting list?

 

Sorry, but I cannot as they only allow return customers with a long history / high $$$ sales to get in line for those.

 

That about somes it up if you want to pay retail for a SS Daytona. Either you have bought $100k+ of merchandise from the jeweler or you are sol and have to pay at least $8900.00. Typically you will pay $9500 though.

Lou

 

Alex,

I know the purpose of the sale, but, would you considert a trade + $$$ for the Daytona. i just purchase a new "Y" serial number Yachtmaster. Retail $6900.00. Would you consider a trade and money?


Lou

 

Thanks Lou for the offer . But I'll either sell it or keep it. After seeing all these post I just might keep it. I might have to take some abuse for a while but it's going to be worth it. Don't you agree?

 

Sell it on eBay. I sold mine for 9K two weeks after I bought it. I couldn't resist the markup. I paid list.

Looking to buy a Cartier Roadster Chrono now. The SS Daytona is nothing special.

 

How did you get MSRP, were you on a waiting list?

 

Yea, I agree. I would definately keep it. I convinced a friend to put himself on his jewelers list. He/I get the next one. I thought I was set. Then he kept looking at it and yesterday started saying, maybe I'll just keep it. Figures, he never even knew about the watch, now he wants it. Oh Well, guess I'll keep trying.

Lou

 

Rolex is brilliant at marketing. Originally the 16520 Daytonas had movements outsourced from Zenith. The slow and low production was blamed on this. The newer models 116520 now have Rolex in-house movements. Similarly, I remember when the SS/Platinum Yachtmaster came out, there was speculation that it was the next Daytona in terms of demand....Rolex eventually caught up and now they are usually in stock. There is no reason why Daytonas are difficult to purchase there is no excuse for the backlog/waiting list except for the Rolex Marketing department controlling the demand.

P.S. I just got my 116520 SS white dial Daytona today....an early Christmas present from the wife.

 

Essentially what happens is Rolex makes "X" amount of movements for the Daytona (which is their most complicated movement) and it is not less produced than other models.

What they do though is due to the demand of the SS Daytona's they would rather stick the movement in a gold Daytona or even a TT Daytona and sell it for more than double. Remember, Rolex don't care about Gray market mark ups. They only get the wholesale price from their authorized dealers.

A dealer pays $3,645 for a SS Daytona and about $6,000 for a TT Daytona. If we go into the 18K models and exotic dial models they pay North of $10,000 for them on the wholesale end. The only added cost to Rolex is the weight in gold which is minimal. They are still using the same movement, only now making alot more money.

The hype of having one of the worlds most sought after and unobtainable sports models maintains "talk" and mystique for the brand.

As you say, good marketing!

How many times has a person walked into a Rolex dealer in search of the holy grail SS Daytona and walked out with a Sea-Dweller or a 16610 or a TT Daytona? It happens everyday!

 

AMEN, that about sums up the consumer driven impulse sale!

p.s. Hey Stryke, thanks for the inside info on dealer costs, I like knowing what the store(aka "my enemy") is holding behind the list price. I guess it makes me feel better knowing this kinda stuff!

 

Who me? I didn't say anything!

 

I got over the whole DAYTONA FAZE.. the truth of the matter is, that there many other watchs that are worth 10k..not marked up to 10k. I have a few watchs, the Rolex Gmt, loses time, the Frank Muller Imperial Tourbillion is almost to nice to wear everyday. The best watch I own is my Panerai..always works and is far more durable then any watch i have owned. also panerai's are rare in comparision to Rolex's. Plus everyone has Rolex's

 

I agree on some points and not on others. While Panerai is one of my personal favorites (who can dispute a nice 104 or 111?), they are not more durable than a 40mm Oyster case. The Rolex sports models are built like tanks and the highly modified ETA movement in the Panerai's would not outlast the durability of the 3135 in many of the sport's Rolex models.

Regardless, since they only make about 30,000 pieces a year worldwide compared to Rolex who is the largest high end manufacturer in the world, churning out about a million watches a year, Panerai is far more exclusive. I agree with that!

Overall, both are great watches and an awesome addition to any collection.

P.S. When was the last time you had that GMT serviced? If it is out of COSC specs I would send it in if I were you.

 

didnt we have this discusion a month or so ago.. or am I crazy?