Tropical 6262 Rolex Daytona

If there is a god, I like to imagine that tropical dials are his way of saying, ‘wear your damn watches’. The sun is a ball of nuclear chaos 8.3 light minutes away from Earth. But its effects are not always this attractive. Consider for example the female residents of Florida between the ages of…

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116520 ‘Panna Dial’ Rolex Daytona

This is the next Patrizzi. It’s not often I get to say that, so let me elaborate. Osvaldo Patrizzi was first to clock a change in some 16520 Zenith Daytona dials, where subdial rings would turn a taupe golden tan with sun exposure. Watch collectors adore a good defect. We also adore a cream or…

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Tropical 6262 Rolex Daytona

Tropical-6262-Rolex-Daytona

Tropical dials have a tendency to polarize watch collectors like few other topics. Godiva 1665 DRSDs, caramel 321 Speedmasters, and latte Cosmographs all have one thing in common: encompassing adoration or outright hatred. Think Patek’s green 5711 caused division? Bring a hazel-tan 3700 to your nearest watch group. I’ll warn you now, I tend to…

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‘Desert Eagle’ 6263 Rolex Daytona

Desert-Eagle-6263-Rolex-Daytona-UAE

Imagine being invited into Jean-Frederic Dufour’s palatial office, sitting in some absurdly sumptuous modern leather chair, and asking him if he might be able to remove the name ‘Rolex’ from his dial for you. Just a few pieces, of course. You think asking an AD for ceramic Daytona is implausible? I suspect Mr. Dufour would…

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Porcelain ‘Floating Cosmograph’ 16528 Rolex Daytona

Porcelain-Rolex-Daytona-16528-Floating-Cosmograph

It is difficult to overstate the importance of the 16520 (or 16528 here in yellow gold). The Cosmograph had become undesirable and a stagnant seller by the year 1988. For context, there are stories from that era of customers asking to buy special production Day-Dates, but having to purchase Daytonas to sweeten the AD’s books.…

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6240 Rolex ‘Large-Daytona’

6240-Rolex-Cosmograph-Daytona-Large-Dial

We’re back in the realm of Wilsdorf details again, but for good reason. I’ve covered a majority of the Cosmograph and Daytona’s evolution through the market’s flux. The 6240 is a rare bird I have never had the pleasure to cover. I would venture to suppose it is, arguably, the most important Cosmograph reference no…

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16520 ‘Patrizzi’ Rolex Daytona

Rolex-Daytona-16520-Patrizzi

If you are beyond sick of the modern collecting Daytona hype (right there with you), don’t be so fast to turn away. In fact, I’m about to offer a viable, collectible, possibly even better-valued alternative. The now so-called neo-vintage range of 16520 and 116520 Daytonas are, to some extent, the last iterations with significant variations…

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6241 ‘John Player Special’ Rolex Daytona

6241-John-Player-Special-Rolex-Daytona

Auction season is wrapping up which means it’s time for me to sprinkle in some heavyweights to the mix of things. Now, just to be clear, I will not be talking about the insanely low estimates, undoubtedly ludicrous to-be-results, money laundering, chandelier bids, or any other ubiquitous auction argument angles. We’re here for watches and…

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Tropical Transitional 6262 Rolex Daytona

Tropical-6262-Rolex-Cosmograph-Daytona

Tropical dials have a tendency to polarize watch collectors like few other topics. Godiva 1665 DRSDs, caramel 321 Speedmasters, and latte-brown Cosmographs all have one thing in common: encompassing adoration or outright hatred. I have yet to encounter any middle ground ambivalence in the zeitgeist. Think Patek’s green 5711 caused division? Bring a hazel-tan 3700…

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6239 Rolex Cosmograph-Only Dial

Rolex-Cosmograph-6239

Inverse panda, pump pusher, steel bezel, single-line Cosmograph text: these are things dreams are made of. I admit to being a fan of this reference to an almost child-like extent. I’ll try to rein that in as I feature this example. You will be familiar with the Circuit de la Sarthe of the US, Daytona,…

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