SOTC # 12 of 16: ROLEX DAYTONA 116500LN
/ROLEX DAYTONA 116500LN
I was very much a car guy, before becoming a watch guy. For the same reasons that I love watches, I love cars. It’s the mechanics, it’s the purpose built analog mechanics working in a modern, digital age. One watch connects both world for me - the fabled Rolex Daytona. However as I soon discovered, wanting one is easier then actually acquiring one so here’s my story...
March 2016. Rolex announces a new Daytona model, the 116500LN, with a ceramic bezel, dubbed the DaytonaC.
June 2016. I successfully put myself on the waitlist on a couple of ADs.
January 28, 2019. I get a call from one AD, asking if I had any interest in a pre-owned Daytona 116520 in white? Not quite the call I was hoping but excited nonetheless, I said yes. A few days later, on Thursday, January 31st, the 116520 arrives.
I spent the weekend with it but I was having second thoughts. With the silver subdial rings against the white dial, it didn’t have enough contrast. In my opinion, the black with silver subdial rings is the one to have in this 116520 model.
February 4, 2019. 7am. I’m at LAX about to board a flight when I get a call from the same AD who just sold me the Daytona days ago. It was THE CALL for a white 116500LN. What the... I mean I have to say yes, right?
I board the flight, a couple of hours later, I’m in Austin, TX for a quick layover. There can only be one so the ‘520 had to go. From the American Airlines lounge in Austin, I called and shopped the 520 around to multiple dealers back home in LA. One offered me 15% more than what I paid so done. I called my wife at home, asked her to please take the watch with box and papers there and sell it to them. As the plane was taxiing, I called the AD back to confirm and worked out a few last details. While in the air, somewhere over Texas on the plane’s wifi, I paid.
The white Daytona arrived a day later, Tuesday, February 5th. After spending what seemed to be the longest week of my life away on business, I came back home on Thursday, February 7th with a brand new Daytona awaiting.
Net-net it all worked out, I had gotten a watch that I patiently waited almost three years for and for less than MSRP, if you factor in selling the 520.
/ TOMMY