The ceramic SS Daytona "Panda" is NOT a grail watch! Or is it?!
WatchCrunch profiles have an About section and one of the questions I found interesting is, "What is your grail watch and why?" That got me thinking about my own collection and do I consider any of my own watches to be grails.
I'm the (very, very very, very very very) fortunate owner of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN which came out in 2016 and became an immediate sensation in the watch community. But I'll be open about my feelings about it... it's not a grail watch. Well, at least not my grail. There I said it.
Perhaps it's because I added it relatively early in my journey as a collector that I feel this way. However, when I evaluate what this watch means to me here are 2 reasons I don't consider it a grail:
- The addition of the black Cerachrom bezel to the stainless steel Daytona came in 2016 but Cerachrom itself first came to the Daytona way back 2010-11 on the Everose gold Daytona ref. 116515LN, not to mention on the 50th-anniversary platinum Daytona ref. 116506. While the ceramic bezel itself isn't all that special, there's no doubt that the combination of ceramic bezel and precious metal makes those two references true grails IMO.
- I acquired a white aka "Panda" dial all the way back in mid-2017 (well before Rolex SS Daytona hype got out of control). But it's not a true Panda dial, is it? I've always loved the look of Panda dials on vintage 6263s and the visual impact of the current "Panda" just isn't on the same level. I'd love to see Rolex introduce that change as it would be more visually impactful and more legible too. (pictured below: "Paul Newman" Mark 1 Panda dial ref 6263 and a "Big Red" Panda dial ref 6263)
Don't get me wrong, my appreciation and love of this watch have only grown in the years that I've owned it and I have absolutely no plans to sell it. It's a cornerstone of my collection.
Am I bonkers for not considering it a grail? Do you consider the 116510LN a grail? WatchCrunch community, chime in!
Gen-X watch enthusiast. Into watches before I knew a damn thing about them or anything (maybe I still don't). An unabashed fan of Rolex and Cartier.
Not bonkers at all. In your heart of hearts, you can't force yourself to love or get sentimental about something, even if it one of the most hyped watches on the market. My only question to you then is why did you purchase it originally? If your appreciation and love of this watch have only grown in the years that you've owned it, how did you feel about it when you originally bought it? Did you really want the 6263?
The lore of the Daytona definitely was an attraction to getting this watch. While I would love a 6263, even pre-pandemic prices for them made them unobtainable. I’d honestly be afraid to wear a 6263 just for fear of doing anything to devalue it. That’s partly why owning a modern Daytona made sense for me.
Fair enough. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences and as such, a grail watch for one may not be a grail watch for others. Just because the Daytona is a hot model, doesn't automatically make it your grail watch. You also mentioned that you acquired it relatively early in your collecting journey. I think this has also played a part in how you feel towards it.
I've got AP and Rolex in my collection - but my personal so called "grail" watches are Seiko 7a28-7000, G757 5020 Sports 100 and 7a28-500A in my collection; I really don't care about brands and "hype" - just the feel and look
I've got AP and Rolex in my collection - but my personal so called "grail" watches are Seiko 7a28-7000, G757 5020 Sports 100 and 7a28-500A in my collection; I really don't care about brands and "hype" - just the feel and look
You have a "Ripley" that's so cool!
I don't think you're bonkers. Heck I wish I could say a Daytona is the cornerstone of my collection, but I do agree that it's not a grail. IMHO, I see grails to be high horology, exclusive, and hard to reach (for me it's the A. Lange and Sohne Datograph perpetual calendar). Additionally, I think it's worth noting that, grails can be a variety of things to a variety of people. For some, obtaining one nice watch is a grail, or a luxury watch, or heck even a Rolex.
I'm all for whatever someone wants to call a grail, but the hype around this specific piece is bit annoying and some of the other pieces out there as well. As I understand it from some of my friends who collect other items, knives, comics etc., they too are experiencing the same problem.
Wear that beauty in good health, my friend!🍻
High end holy trinity, multi - complication is the true grail direction for most.
Your Rolex is still a watch i would covet.