closing tag is in template navbar
timefactors watches



TZ-UK Fundraiser
Results 1 to 50 of 56

Thread: Rolex Daytona steel alternatives...

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,256

    Rolex Daytona steel alternatives...

    I am not in a position to buy at the moment but wondered what watches people considered when looking for one of these? My criteria would be no more than 10k, white dial, preferably date but not necessity, automatic movement, no bigger than 42mm, bracelet or leather strap. Looking at the more sporty end of the spectrum so it can be worn more for daily use with casual clothes.

    I REALLY like the speed master 57 white dial with leather strap but already have an omega so looking for something else brand wise.
    Last edited by Stuno1; 25th January 2018 at 17:28.

  2. #2
    Craftsman Exiztence's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Prague
    Posts
    384
    I think it's difficult to find sport watch with white dial, that being said you could delve into some less common waters like:
    Panerai 1523

    Mark XVIII White

    I feel like Portugieser can be pretty sporty but lacks WR

    JLC Geophysic LE Reedition or Tru Second can be pretty sporty but difficult to aquire perhaps now

    Maybe something from Zenith production
    Last edited by Exiztence; 25th January 2018 at 15:49.

  3. #3
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,256
    I am look for chronograph as I don’t currently have one and it will add some nice variety. I did look at the el primero and saw a clip on how Rolex took the movement for te daytona until recently. More digging is needed in that one I think.

    What’s the view on zenith? They are not a brand I known much about at all. I’ll do some digging.
    Last edited by Stuno1; 25th January 2018 at 17:09.

  4. #4
    Craftsman Exiztence's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Prague
    Posts
    384
    I suppose by daytime you meant Daytona? Got confused there..

  5. #5
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,256
    Oh bum! I’ll try and edit the title.

  6. #6
    Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1,454
    You can’t go too far wrong with a nice Rolex Explorer II Polar white dial.

  7. #7
    IWC Portuguese chrono ( I own one ) is a very classy watch and is sturdy enough to be worn daily along . I absolutely love mine and sometimes wear it daily with casual clothes (looks great with a suit too)
    Zenith also do some lovely chronos too.

  8. #8
    Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Sussex, UK
    Posts
    5,128
    The VC looks a superb watch; but it costs three times the retail price of a steel Daytona and considerably more than a 'grey' Daytona. But it won't hold value while the Rolex probably will.
    That's the dilemma for buyers, and it's a tough call, even if you get a good discount on the VC. Still, I'd be tempted because it's far rarer with a nicer image.

  9. #9
    Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Between here, there and nowhere
    Posts
    3,442
    Quote Originally Posted by Stuno1 View Post
    I am look for chronograph as I don’t currently have one and it will add some nice variety. I did look at the el primero and saw a clip on how Rolex took the movement for te daytona until recently. More digging is needed in that one I think.

    What’s the view on zenith? They are not a brand I known much about at all. I’ll do some digging.
    Not that recently, Rolex stopped using a modified El Primero movement when they developed their own in-house unit in 2000, 18 years ago

  10. #10
    Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Sussex, UK
    Posts
    5,128
    Zenith do some interesting stuff, able to be both sporty and classic. Get an El Primero movement because of all the history.
    I know you have an Omega, but why not a second one, something quite unusual and distinct.

    That's from their Museum collection, the MD 10. Solid gold, used would cost half of a steel Daytona. Every bit as good, to my tastes. As accurate as my Daytona, easier to read, and you can use the pushers while the watch is on the wrist. The screw-down pushers on the Daytona make that impractical. Yes, the Daytona holds value very well, but it's far from a perfect design.


    Sent from my iPad using TZ-UK mobile app
    Last edited by paskinner; 25th January 2018 at 18:49.

  11. #11
    Grand Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Wakefield, West Yorkshire
    Posts
    22,513
    That Omega chrono’s nice, but it would be nicer without the word co- axial on the dial!

    Paul

  12. #12
    Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Sussex, UK
    Posts
    5,128
    Quote Originally Posted by walkerwek1958 View Post
    That Omega chrono’s nice, but it would be nicer without the word co- axial on the dial!

    Paul
    Agreed . Omega claim it derives from a 1938 design, but in truth it seems an amalgam of several Omega watches from that period. None of which could have featured 'coaxial ' on the dial.
    If I were the OP I would look for a used Zenith, taking depreciation out of the equation. The El Primero stuff has a great lineage.

  13. #13
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Stourbridge UK
    Posts
    304
    The El Primero movement is highly rated and one of the best imo. Zenith has a lot of history behind it as a brand. Very happy with Mk1 De Luca and cost rather less than £5k


  14. #14
    Master golfg60's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    2,797
    Blog Entries
    13
    A zenith Daytona Daytona




    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

  15. #15
    Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    2,974
    Blog Entries
    1
    Better than a non EP Daytona IMHO


  16. #16
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,256
    Having looked again at the Daytona, Speedmaster 57 titanium and El primero open and chronomaster the zenith watches are leading the way on looks.
    Last edited by Stuno1; 25th January 2018 at 20:08.

  17. #17
    Apprentice
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Glasgow, UK
    Posts
    29


    I know it is not in the same category, but you get the white dial, the chronograph with screw-down pushers and the ceramic bezel on a budget.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  18. #18
    Master WarrenVrs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Berkshire
    Posts
    2,266
    Quote Originally Posted by elmiperru View Post


    I know it is not in the same category, but you get the white dial, the chronograph with screw-down pushers and the ceramic bezel on a budget.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    I really wanted one. Then I saw the ridiculous pricing strategy for European customers and thought better of it.

    Sent from my [device_name] using TZ-UK mobile app

  19. #19
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Birmingham
    Posts
    365
    Have you considered the breitling navitimer? Also the Heuer autavia re-release

  20. #20
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,256
    Quote Originally Posted by OliverD View Post
    Have you considered the breitling navitimer? Also the Heuer autavia re-release
    I’ll have a look at those...

  21. #21
    Grand Master learningtofly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Everywhere & nowhere, baby
    Posts
    37,573
    I gave up waiting for my Daytona, and am now totally smitten by this... meets all your criteria, I'd say.


  22. #22
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,256
    Quote Originally Posted by learningtofly View Post
    I gave up waiting for my Daytona, and am now totally smitten by this... meets all your criteria, I'd say.

    Except price I imagine? Beautiful watch. Just looked...27k... lol
    Last edited by Stuno1; 25th January 2018 at 21:40.

  23. #23
    Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Between here, there and nowhere
    Posts
    3,442
    Quote Originally Posted by learningtofly View Post
    I gave up waiting for my Daytona, and am now totally smitten by this... meets all your criteria, I'd say.

    Quote Originally Posted by Stuno1 View Post
    Except price I imagine? Beautiful watch. Just looked...27k... lol
    That’s the older 40mm version, which was discontinued a few years ago. If you can find one they’ll be under 10k second hand.

    I used to have one, and never understood why S/H they cost less than an equivalent Daytona.
    One of the holy trinity
    Better movement finishing
    Better case and bracelet finishing
    Dual window date
    Rarer

    Yet the Daytona cost more, demand I guess

  24. #24
    Journeyman
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    87
    .........

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by learningtofly View Post
    I gave up waiting for my Daytona, and am now totally smitten by this... meets all your criteria, I'd say.

    What's the model no for that one? Stunning watch!

  25. #25
    Journeyman
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    UK - midlands
    Posts
    52
    Quote Originally Posted by roanje View Post
    .........

    - - - Updated - - -



    What's the model no for that one? Stunning watch!
    This watch looks superb!

    And I like it all the more that it seems to be quite rare....

  26. #26
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Wiltshire
    Posts
    24,924
    Quote Originally Posted by learningtofly View Post
    I gave up waiting for my Daytona, and am now totally smitten by this... meets all your criteria, I'd say.


    Winner winner chicken dinner.

    I saw a black face version for sale on Chrono24 (in Greece) for under £7k, but no box or papers.

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  27. #27
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    London
    Posts
    337
    Quote Originally Posted by Andyg View Post
    Winner winner chicken dinner.

    I saw a black face version for sale on Chrono24 (in Greece) for under £7k, but no box or papers.
    How does the VC wear for size given that its a 42mm? Looks like amazing value..

  28. #28
    Master
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Surrey
    Posts
    1,554
    Quote Originally Posted by learningtofly View Post
    I gave up waiting for my Daytona, and am now totally smitten by this... meets all your criteria, I'd say.

    That is great.

  29. #29
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Birmingham
    Posts
    365


    Oh and GP just released a new chronograph that you could look at

  30. #30
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    5,428
    One option might be to find the old white dial Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow Chronograph, saving about 3/4 of your budget. It wore very well and felt like their Daytona alternative at the time. Then spend the change on a second generation Overseas (three hander).

  31. #31
    Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Sussex, UK
    Posts
    5,128
    The truth is, no three-year commitment can be relied on. Too many variables, too fickle dealers. They sell to who they want to, whatever they tell you now. After all, it's a business. You may get lucky, you may not......my own feeling is that life's too short for this sort of thing.
    In the end, after all that wait, you may quickly find it is just another good-quality watch, nothing more, nothing less.
    Re the screw-down pushers; they are not there to improve water-resistance.
    Last edited by paskinner; 28th January 2018 at 19:04.

  32. #32
    Master Neilw3030's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Exeter, Devon, UK
    Posts
    4,046
    How about one of these, less common than all the others I reckon



    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

  33. #33
    Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    N Ireland
    Posts
    4,424
    Quote Originally Posted by Neilw3030 View Post
    How about one of these, less common than all the others I reckon



    Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
    Another vote for the 116680. Got one this year and it is fabulous. Absolutely so . WG hands not the most easily read tho.

    Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Do Not Sell My Personal Information