It took 3 and a half years
I got my grail. Last week I picked up my long awaited watch at the AD. Even if I don’t use the term any more I once defined the Rolex 116500LN as such. Grail or not, I have lusted for the steel Daytona in black for a long time. Finally, last week, I was contacted by the AD and was offered the soon to be discontinued version. Now it’s mine to enjoy 3 and half years after my first thought ”I want one of those” at retail and the decision at that time to make it happen. I like Rolex. I think they make some stunning sport models and for me this steel version Daytona is the jewel in the crown. To me it looks amazing and the dimensions are just perfect for my 17 cm wrist.
To achieve this goal I had to climb the ladder, to play the AD game if you will. I have registred my interest for a BB58, a Submariner and finally the black Daytona, one at the time. I have spiced my spending history with two JLCs and a Omega. Watches I truly wanted and I have not been forced or suggested any watches I didn’t want. So basically I have been a good customer to the AD and the AD has been good to me, given me the watches I been listed for with fair estimates on expected waiting time.
I didn’t have the call for this one. Instead I had a mail saying that they thanked me for the interest. They also wrote that for them to be able to take the next step I had to send in photos of my Submariner showing the serialnumber together with that days newspaper and also a photo of the guarantee card. As proof to the board that the Daytona wasn’t given to a flipper.
The AD still have a steady flow of watches of discontinued models like this. When I picked up mine there was another watch enthusiast picking up his black Millgaus. So there is still chances for you waiting for a discontinued model.
So now I have my ”grail”. Now what? I no longer have a watch I ”must” have. I’m sure I will find new one to plan for. Maybe a pre loved Lange. My first Grand Seiko? It will take some time of research and saving up to. For the moment there is no particular on my mind and that feels just fine.
I collect new as well as vintage. I have a weak spot for 50s and 60s Omegas. Besides from those I consider myself allround.
Thanks for sharing, and hope your Rolex brings you years of joy!
Thanks for sharing, and hope your Rolex brings you years of joy!
Thank you🤝 I’m ”certain” I will! During my wait I only had the opportunity to try precious metal ones. It was only last month I had the black steel on my wrist for the first time.
Oh my gosh!! Dude, I’m so happy for you!! I completely understand the feeling you get when your AD allows you to purchase a Daytona. Please feel free to spam us on WRUW. Can’t wait to see this guy on your wrist for many years to come! Welcome to the club!!! 🥂🥂
The watch is gorgeous! I admire your patience and your collection. Best of luck with the Rolex.
Awesome! Still think that one is better than the White dial. Well done!
Oh my gosh!! Dude, I’m so happy for you!! I completely understand the feeling you get when your AD allows you to purchase a Daytona. Please feel free to spam us on WRUW. Can’t wait to see this guy on your wrist for many years to come! Welcome to the club!!! 🥂🥂
Thank you! I think what did the trick for me that was that I 4 weeks ago decided to go back on the list for this older version. I, together with many others, asked to be transferred to the new model when it was announced in March. The ADs still have a steady flow of deliveries of this model.
The watch is gorgeous! I admire your patience and your collection. Best of luck with the Rolex.
Thank you! There is so many great looking watches out there so the wait wasn’t too painful. In fact I appreciate that it has been an effort and some time before I got one. Makes it sweeter when it finally arrives.
Awesome! Still think that one is better than the White dial. Well done!
Thank you! The black has always been the one for me. I’m thankful that the white is more sought after (70/30 ratio according to my AD). It improved my chances.
Congratulations on your new watch! Happy for you that you met a honourable AD (I have a very different experience). Great watch!
Congratulations on your new watch! Happy for you that you met a honourable AD (I have a very different experience). Great watch!
Thank you! Yes, they have been fair. When entered into the store for the first time they where very clear that the waitlists was closed for all steel sport models. But they never tried to push anything on me. When I 3-4 month later asked about the BB58 they put me on the waitlist with expected delivery time of 6 month. After the delivery I was an ”existing customer” and the possibility to sign up for Rolex sport opened up.
Congratulations, it's stunning!
Very well done, lots of patience and perseverance shown there
Enjoy your watch! 👏🏻👏🏻
Congrats 👏 👏
Congrats to your new watch and a very nice story! I am happy for you, enjoy the watch in good health! 👌😎
🎉🎉Congratulations!🥳 she’s a real stunner!!
The black dial looks way better than the white one in my opinion… looks deeper make the indices float 👌👌
Enjoy!!
Congratulations! Enjoy the moment!!
Great watch! Congrats brother.
Congrats! 🎊🎉 I am not excited about Rolex, but happy for you to get your grail! 🥂
Absolute stunner! Congratulations on playing on your own terms and winning!!🎊✨
Congrats, happy for you! Wear it in good health 😀👍
Congratulations and great story. I always share the less than secret to get one is buy other stuff you want. Yes, people can argue they shouldn’t have to, but as long as it’s an allocation model, it works. I hope you wear it proudly and often.
Thank you! Yes, my take is that I choose an AD that have watches from brands I like and want. Then I focus my spending on that AD.
Congrats! That’s dope!
Congrats, thats absolutely stunning, enjoy!
You did well my friend. I have also played the AD game here in Berlin and in the last 2 years I got an Airking, which needs replacing since the robbery so now is on order again!, and a 36mm Datejust but they laughed at getting on the list for a Daytona....I should just go buy one 2nd hand and save me some money I think!! I had a 1966 exotic dial Paul Newman once but sold the thing back in 2005....One of my biggest watch regrets.......not the only one unfortunately......but I used the money to buy a BMW and a Rolex "Zenith" Daytona, both I sold a year later.....Now your watch is my current favourite but seems impossible to buy from an AD within the nedt 10 years (my ADs current estimate) ..Hindsight is 20/20.....
You did well my friend. I have also played the AD game here in Berlin and in the last 2 years I got an Airking, which needs replacing since the robbery so now is on order again!, and a 36mm Datejust but they laughed at getting on the list for a Daytona....I should just go buy one 2nd hand and save me some money I think!! I had a 1966 exotic dial Paul Newman once but sold the thing back in 2005....One of my biggest watch regrets.......not the only one unfortunately......but I used the money to buy a BMW and a Rolex "Zenith" Daytona, both I sold a year later.....Now your watch is my current favourite but seems impossible to buy from an AD within the nedt 10 years (my ADs current estimate) ..Hindsight is 20/20.....
Ouch! That Paul Newman must be hurting. Sorry about that.
It’s clear that it differs a lot from AD to AD, city from city etc. I hope you will fulfill your dream. At the time I was allowed to put my name down I did have a spending history. High but not as massive I can read about. BB58, Reverso and a Sub. I asked if I was naive to expect something but the AD was quite convincing that something would come up but couldn’t say how long it would take. Hope everything goes your way and you will be able to sign up for one. There are more than one testimony saying that availibility seems to go up here and there.
Enjoy your watch
Per what a beautiful piece. I’m really happy for you and thank you for sharing your story. This tells me what I already knew. I’m not a Rolex customer. That whole AD game is a huge turn off for me.
Congrats! Wear it in good health! :)
Congrats! Didn’t realize ADs were making clients do all that before getting an allocation. I waited 3 yrs for mine - a text saying “interested?”, the rest was history.
"...For the moment there is no particular on my mind and that feels just fine." Liar!