A Day of Unexpected Elegance: The Unveiling of a New Daytona at Watches of Switzerland
I have a tale that might stir up some debate, but let’s dive in. Recently, I made an impromptu visit to Watches of Switzerland to surprise my Sales Associate (SA) with an early Christmas present, almost forgetting to hand it over, captivated as I was by the sight of a new Daytona. During a lengthy chat with several associates, the topic turned to my desire for a full gold Daytona to pair with my 116515LN OysterFlex. We discussed Rolex’s policy that prevents adding an OysterFlex strap to a gold Daytona, meaning I’d need to purchase another to enjoy both styles.
Unexpectedly, I found myself escorted to the ‘Rolex Atelier Sales Room’. Even then, I didn’t realize a watch offer was unfolding. My habit of carrying clean gloves for boutique visits caught the SA’s attention, and as they handed me a fresh pair, I was led into the ‘special room’. There, a Rolex box awaited, and they revealed a shift from reference numbers 116 to 126—a new Daytona, possibly? Opening the box confirmed it: a brand new 2023 126505LN Everose Daytona with diamond hour markers. The surprise was immense, as I would have never wagered on receiving another Daytona so soon after my last acquisition.
The adrenaline from the experience left me euphoric long after I left the store, a retail thrill I hadn’t felt in years, comparable only to receiving a custom-built sports car. This event has led me to reflect on Rolex’s sales strategy. Despite common discussions around availability, this personal experience suggests that Rolex may indeed prefer to cultivate anticipation, which in turn creates unforgettable moments and stronger customer relationships.
Credit where it’s due—my SA Austin and the manger Raul were exemplary, turning what could have been a disappointing visit due to strap compatibility issues into an extraordinary experience. This day, I felt the childlike wonder of Christmas morning, the rare adult moment of pure, unexpected joy in acquiring something truly valuable. Typically, I meticulously plan such significant purchases, but today, spontaneity was king.
I’m still high off the adrenaline as I finish typing this post. And that’s the experience that I believe Rolex wants to deliver to its customers. I couldn’t have left in a better mood. Thank you Watches of Switzerland and you’ve got a customer for life in me. Cheers fellas. #Blessed #Gratitude #126505LN
The second photo clearly shows why the OysterFlex can’t be swapped for a gold bracelet—just look at those end links.
Welcome! I’m @TheHoroSexual, a passionate collector and connoisseur of distinctive horology. My journey began with a Rolex Yacht Master 37, which ignited a lifelong appreciation for Rolex’s design lan...
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Hallelujah 🙏 Best wishes and wear your new King 👑 in great health, my friend 🤩
*checks for @TheHoroSexual's address*
*ready supply of toilet rolls, eggs and gather kids to give them paperbags and instruction to find doggo poop. Cat poop is allowed*
*TP, eggs his house and wait for the kids to ding dong dash the lucky son of a gun who now have TWO, yes, two Rolex Daytonas because of some great celestial positioning aligns with his having the chance to buy one at RRP*
Mwahahaha! Feel my jealousy!!! 😛
In all seriousness, congratulations on your purchase!
Congrats!
Hallelujah 🙏 Best wishes and wear your new King 👑 in great health, my friend 🤩
Thank you Mark!! I’m still in shock if I’m honest. This will be a day to remember!
*checks for @TheHoroSexual's address*
*ready supply of toilet rolls, eggs and gather kids to give them paperbags and instruction to find doggo poop. Cat poop is allowed*
*TP, eggs his house and wait for the kids to ding dong dash the lucky son of a gun who now have TWO, yes, two Rolex Daytonas because of some great celestial positioning aligns with his having the chance to buy one at RRP*
Mwahahaha! Feel my jealousy!!! 😛
In all seriousness, congratulations on your purchase!
Hahahaha. The SA told me when we met earlier in the year that he would take my wishlist as a challenge to him and see if he could come through on any of them for me. Well, his first time up to bat really demonstrated his ability to challenge my bank account!! 😝😆😅💸💸💸
Congrats!
Thank you! 🥂
Nice job. I really happy for you. It's going to be easy for you to wear it with a smile. 🥂
That is an amazing watch Paul! Congratulations on the pick up, and yes it is an amazing feeling.
Nice job. I really happy for you. It's going to be easy for you to wear it with a smile. 🥂
I’ve had the biggest grin on my face all evening. While I don’t like to proclaim that material possessions make you happier, this watch sure does put a smile on my face when I look down at her. I think my “happiness” is wrapped up in the surprise of it all. I truly had no earthy idea that this watch was going to be offered to me. NONE. And that fact makes it that much sweeter. Cheers Craig! 🥂
Woah, what an amazing experience! Congratulations 🤝👌
Woah, what an amazing experience! Congratulations 🤝👌
Thank you! I legitimately felt like a kid on Christmas morning. Haven’t felt that way as an adult in a long time.
Hahahaha. The SA told me when we met earlier in the year that he would take my wishlist as a challenge to him and see if he could come through on any of them for me. Well, his first time up to bat really demonstrated his ability to challenge my bank account!! 😝😆😅💸💸💸
Well... those 2 watches are being bought at ~ 1/2 what they sell for on gray market - so I think the bank account is always recoverable should you ever want fewer watches and more liquidity!
My beloved Seiko LX could only be so lucky 😑🙄
I think I mentioned my buddy flew from Vancouver to Toronto to get on a waiting list for a sub, the Vancouver AD, Palladio, wouldn't accept him (or me) for any waiting lists. Welcome to life as one of the poors!
It's all ok though. I was completely turned off the brand after my run in with Palladio. But, if I was crazy in love, I'd find a way to get one. Either in Japan, or down in Seattle, or I'd fly to you and beg you introduce me to your guy ( and insist we went in together so it's known I'm part of the in-crowd!)
On to your write up: more than the watch, I'm super jealous of your effusive joy - and yet so glad it happened to such a nice person.
I'm not sure if or how I'll ever get a buzz like you describe when getting a new watch. Something to ponder.... 🤔 hmm.
Well, thanks for the great write up Paul and congrats on the NW! 😊
I'm happy that you got what you wanted, but I've never understood the mentality of giving someone a gift to allow you to buy what you want. In any other retail environment where you are buying expensive things it is usually the seller offering extras to encourage the sale, but then I've never had the kind of money to shop somewhere that I'm likely to get this calibre of service. Enjoy your watch in good health, I'm sure you will.
I will increase my credit card limit and will go to Rolex soon
Well... those 2 watches are being bought at ~ 1/2 what they sell for on gray market - so I think the bank account is always recoverable should you ever want fewer watches and more liquidity!
My beloved Seiko LX could only be so lucky 😑🙄
I think I mentioned my buddy flew from Vancouver to Toronto to get on a waiting list for a sub, the Vancouver AD, Palladio, wouldn't accept him (or me) for any waiting lists. Welcome to life as one of the poors!
It's all ok though. I was completely turned off the brand after my run in with Palladio. But, if I was crazy in love, I'd find a way to get one. Either in Japan, or down in Seattle, or I'd fly to you and beg you introduce me to your guy ( and insist we went in together so it's known I'm part of the in-crowd!)
On to your write up: more than the watch, I'm super jealous of your effusive joy - and yet so glad it happened to such a nice person.
I'm not sure if or how I'll ever get a buzz like you describe when getting a new watch. Something to ponder.... 🤔 hmm.
Well, thanks for the great write up Paul and congrats on the NW! 😊
Alan, you are a standup gentleman yourself and I’m grateful to have your friendship on WC. I regret not being able to join you guys in California for the GS9 event. I’m really itching to meet more of the WC Community as most seem to be truly wonderful individuals that aren’t full of themselves or unnecessarily rude to strangers just looking for a common community online. Unfortunately, Rolex has too many AD’s that almost seem bothered by you for going in and inquiring about your “dream” Rolex. I think the staff at some of these AD’s are jaded by people constantly going in and asking for a Panda Daytona or a Pepsi GMT and Submariner that they look at you and say “you and everyone else bud”. And then the games some of them play does get frustrating. The whole reason I went to this store was because my “normal” Rolex AD wasn’t looking out for me and I eventually got fed up with it and found a SA willing to work with me. It wasn’t a totally smooth road to get to this point. But it was all that work and time that made this event so special to me. It also helps that the Daytona is my favorite Rolex model. It’s truly is my “grail” Rolex. Cheers mate.
Wow. Congrats!
Thank you! Enjoy your weekend Sam.
Congratulations 😊👍
Thank you very much! 🥂
Congratulations 🎉
Thank you! 🙏
Glad for you, mate !
I appreciate the kind words. Cheers 🥂
Good story and awesome piece,congrats.
Thank you Robert. Enjoy your weekend!
Well Dan, as you know, you can’t really go wrong with a Speedmaster. I’ve got my name down for the 321 Ed White Speedmaster and I’m probably equally excited about receiving that watch as I am with the Daytona. I love how Omega assembles these movements, too. They have a special Atelier where they perform what is called a two-fold assembly production. In this workshop, each watchmaker works on one watch at a time. Therefore, each Speedmaster Calibre 321 is assembled and regulated by the same person. A lesser-known fact, however, is that each caliber 321 is assembled twice. The watchmaker will put it together, adjust/regulate it, disassemble it, clean it, and assemble it again. The logic behind this is that watchmakers can examine if all components are working together as they should. It is the old way of doing things, and you will only see it today with some high-end brands. A. Lange & Söhne is a well-known example of a brand that still does a two-fold assembly. It is a time-consuming activity, so the capacity of the watchmakers takes a hit here. That’s why they only make 1 to 2000 a year and probably closer to the 1000 number for the past couple years. As you can see, I geek out about a lot of stuff as I can go down quite the rabbit hole with this topic. Cheers Dan.
Damn! That is nerdy, but boy, I love it! I got the first snoopy; it is (and will remain so, I hope, I pray...please) the priciest piece I have bought so far, though interestingly, I would love to get a basic Speedmaster reduced as a beater... we shall see. The Ed White is gorgeous, no doubt about it. Factory tours are on my list, but I can't do that just now (my kids would literally stone me).
Damn! That is nerdy, but boy, I love it! I got the first snoopy; it is (and will remain so, I hope, I pray...please) the priciest piece I have bought so far, though interestingly, I would love to get a basic Speedmaster reduced as a beater... we shall see. The Ed White is gorgeous, no doubt about it. Factory tours are on my list, but I can't do that just now (my kids would literally stone me).
I want to spend about a week in Switzerland doing day trips to all the different Maisons. And then take a weekend trip to Glashütte in Germany to do a GO Sunday Manufature tour as well as a visit to the town horological museum and to do a tour A. Lange & Sohne. That would be my dream vacation.
Congratulations and enjoy this beautiful watch 🙌
Congratulations and enjoy this beautiful watch 🙌
Thanks Marcos!
Thanks man! It was one of the most exciting experiences I’ve had as a grown man. Crazy, I know; but it was literally the last thing I expected to happen in that moment.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Congrats on your new Rolex. I didn’t know there is a special room where the box is opened. Interesting presentation.
My AD has a small room where they do the handover.
For those less knowledgeable about Rolex/Daytona, can you explain the oyster flex/bracelet issue? It sounds like the lugs of the case fit one, or the other...and you can't swap between the two. I have to think I am mis-understanding that.
Rolex are very strict about bracelets and straps. If the watch head wasn't originally configured with, say, a strap, Rolex won't supply you with one.
If your watch only comes with an Oyster bracelet, you can't buy a Jubilee bracelet.
Rolex are very strict about bracelets and straps. If the watch head wasn't originally configured with, say, a strap, Rolex won't supply you with one.
If your watch only comes with an Oyster bracelet, you can't buy a Jubilee bracelet.
The conversation wasn't about the availability of a bracelet for my 116515 Daytona on OysterFlex. It's about how Rolex has deliberately designed the Oysterflex version of the Daytona's case to be incompatible with any other bracelets.Regarding the possibility of ordering additional bracelets, Rolex has made public commitments to facilitate bracelet exchanges for watches like the GMT, which may have originally been paired with a Jubilee bracelet. However, there have been instances reported that suggest these promises have not always been fulfilled consistently.
I apologise unreservedly for my error.
I apologise unreservedly for my error.
All good mate. Enjoy your weekend! Cheers 🥂