FINALLY Bought A Rolex Zenith Daytona For My Watch Collection!! 

I wouldn't refinish it, I would replace the bracelet and place the bezel keep the used parts in a bag, so it's still complete and then enjoy it,

Congrats on your latest addition, what a nice find! Love the Zenith Daytona! I'd leave it all original, at least for a while. Wear it and enjoy it. If you decide later you want it to look like new, you always have that option. Wear it in good health!

Congrats, Eric! Great addition, and it clearly shows that you are a man of taste. I personally am a proud owner of a 1995 16520 white dial version - it's my favorite watch in my collection, even though I can hardly read the time on it lol

I love the Zenith Daytona. You have two iconic watch brands coming together to collaborate on an amazing watch. I have wanted a two-tone Zenith Daytona with the slate grey dial for years. Each time I had the opportunity to buy one I passed it up. There was always something more pressing in my life that I needed to do. This is one of my grails.

Love the 16520. Just as the Zenith is the collectors item now, in 10yrs time the 116520 will be the collectors go to with the narrative being ‘it’s the first of the in-house movement’ Daytonas.

Great video Erik 👍. FYI The first in-house Daytona 116520 P-serie and K serie 2000-2002 also have thin hands. They are very collectible as well. And trust me the P-serial 116520 Daytona will be a huge thing in the future because it’s the absolute first In-house chronograph Rolex made, with thin hands and only made for 2 years 👍👍

Super congrats! You got a great deal. The prices are climbing. I’d refinish the watch. Make you’re own memories. I just picked up a twenty year old Rolex Explorer 16570 set polar in great unpolished condition. The bezel was too worn for my taste since I wanted to wear it as a daily. Sent it to Rolex and came back in a month in much better condition. I’ve got no complaints with RSC New York. They communicated with me throughout the process and IMO they are the gold standard when touching their watches. I’ve had bad experiences with independents. Very easy for them to replace with non OEM parts and there’s no way you’d know. That surely kills the value. Cheers 😎

Congratulation on this dream addition to your collection. I clearly remember the $7000 times. I personally would refinish it because I would like to have my scratches on it not somebody else's , but as you say , that's just me... I'm leaning on the white dial version solely due to better legibility.Also I could never make peace with the cheap clip on this nineties models, the new ones on the other hand... Well, congratulations again and wear it in great health!!!

Lucky enough to have a 1999 white dial 16520. My dad was the original owner and he gave it me a few years ago. I just had it refinished and serviced by Rolex in August. I have many other watches in my collection but this is my clear favorite. Enjoy yours!!!

Congratulations on the newest member of your watch family. Leave it with its original patina. Every mark is a story. It looks fantastic, do not refurbish this amazing watch.

I agree with you not refurbishing the watch as long as you keep it. I too do love the Zenith movement. I am lucky to own the APH dial white dial 116520, and I love it. I could have purchased the new ceramic white dial, but I prefer the 116520 white dial. Keep those videos coming!

sssssiiiiiiiiicccccccckkkkkkkk piece my man! Yes I was one of the people that asked what you were wearing! I thought you were wearing a 116509.. great add to your already amazing collection! Cheers!

Re finish it and nice it up with your replacement bezel for your journey with it. When you look at watch and see marks and don’t know where it’s from, that must be annoying! So set the watch for your journey. As I don’t think you’ll be selling it. If you might sell it, keep it un polished, un touched. But you’ve been waiting for this. Fresh sun glasses, fresh watch (for you) I’d be happy to see how it turns out!

Hey brother! Love the piece and congrats! I’ve bought second hand pieces in the past and scratches end up driving me crazy the more I wear the piece. Now if I bought the piece new and scratched it myself, then it’s my character it’s showing and not anyone else. I’d refurbish the piece and wear it then the scratches become yours along with the memories associated with wearing the piece. Just my opinion and thought I’d share it with you sir!

Great choice! Love the pre ceramic's!

I actually love the watch. Beautiful 🤩. I have a zenith Daytona myself 2tone with a champagne/ black Chorono face. One thing that makes it even more desirable is to have inverted 6. Which makes is have 2 of number 9. Enjoy your new watch 🎉

I bought my white Zenith Daytona new at an AD in Texas in 1999. I have worn it out in public only aboubt 20 times, so it is in near-new condition. My daily back then was another interesting watch, my Omega Seamaster 300M Chrono. A Zenith Daytona can surely be a conversation piece at parties!

I have a white 97’ full set, both tags, pristine condition, truly unbelievable. Case-back sticker still in place. Makes me so happy.

I agree on the Daytona 16520. I got some Rolex, several vintage GMT, Subs, Sea Dwellers etc, but when it come to the 16520 Daytona it looks and feel very special. I got a 1993 black dial, it got everything except for the actual warranty certificate, I chose it because of the fantastic condition, and the price I paid also reflected that the certificate was missing. I doubt it has seen much use as the clasp is stiff to turn and the bracelet has zero stretch. When I show any of my watches to people that is not really into watches nothing really stir much emotion. Except for the Zenith Daytona. When people see that they go “WOW” every time, it’s totally amazing, it looks expensive, it looks interesting, it’s industrial art on a very high level. I am 100% sure that the Zenith Daytona will be priced much higher than the ceramic version, specially the unpolished ones in great original condition. Of all my watches it will be the last on to sell, apart from family heirlooms.

Congratulations!!! 🎉🎊🎈 🍾

Chuckling, typing this while wearing my actual Zenith Cal 400 movement Zenith El Primero. No but happy that you found “the one” I’ll never get rid of my full kit 2004 GMT Master II, one day it’ll be full on vintage and I’ll enjoy it even more.

Congratulations awesome piece. Keep it original and enjoy it!

true story - this Zenith Daytona was my 1st luxery watch in 20 years time many pieces added to the collection and to this day the Daytona still is the ONLY one i've ever sold (sellers regret)

Good choice , leave it as is , wonderful piece !

Hey Eric, I purchased a white dial Rolex zenith back in November 1999, and obviously, it's full set. I actually still have the original receipt, I paid £3,120 from the Rolex AD.

Beautiful watch Eric the steel bezel Daytona is amazing 😎👍

Excellent choice! Love the 16520

congrats what a watch i love it like it is, i think you should keep it like this, keep up the lovely content greetings from the Netherlands ;)

If you refinish the watch then part of the story you have in getting it goes away...its great as is and the story is part of our hobby. Well done 👏🏼

Congrats! Handsome piece! 😎

Congratulations on your purchase. What a piece!

Beautiful piece brother i would leave it alone, OG! 🤙🏼

dope!!!! Yes refinish the watch!

Thank you for all your videos that you did.

wow, so nice, I know the feeling ... :) ...now you can focus on 6263 or some earlier model of Daytona ; )...for the punch line! all the best!

Mazeltov on getting this watch you thought of for so many years...But ...you were dealing to make a living ...more important than spending lots of time hunting a watch...Enjoy

100% keep it. Got the scratches from the original owner and now your the steward, it has a great story. Love the pice.

this watch is a keeper and I plan to keep in the collection... for a while :p. awesome watch!

If you can't decide to polish nor not, try an aftermarket band. You can see and feel the difference. The bezel is too scratched. Install your new bezel and put a protective bezel film on it. But save all your original parts with the box.

Nice watch. Congrats 🎉. Leave it as is. Looks awesome.

Respect Eric more than all the other watchtubers. He actually like and collects watches and not just uses them for business (looking at you Roman)

Hopefully this follows through with the AP chronograph panda, out of house movement. I own one and I love it.

Out of the modern style of the Daytona. The Zenith Daytona is my favorite. Two awesome 👌 watchmakers combined in one watch ⌚ also love the steel bezel when I think of Daytonas it's with a steel bezel. Ty Charles Vermot for saving the El primero movement. PS leave it original

Because dealers pay nothing to unsuspecting sellers. Easy money

Nice addition!

Great watches we have a 1997 zenith daytona with Patrizzi on the dial looks clean

Awesome watch! I would put the replacement bazel get another bracelet that’s from either the same model, or a newer bracelet, wear it. If you ever want to sell it put the factory parts back on it do not polish. Cheers 🍻

Looks great and cool the way it is, hope you get as much fun as the original owner did with it.

Heyyyy Eric. Wow una pieza espectacular, te felicito. Déjalo así le da mucho carácter y cumple con su objetivo. Dios te bendice

Congrats!

Eric I just enjoy my new month old Sub date, but I feel you passion for your new daytona. I have the same one (just design, dial...) at home but is was bought in Thailand 20 years ago so a fake.

That’s a nice piece. 😍👍

I prefer (and have) the SS white. I also have a 1994 TT bought new in 1995. It’s an amazing watch and better than any other before and after.

Keep it like it is!

Man I like when you said you didn’t find it it found you that’s how I felt when randomly I came across a 116520 back I would leave it alone think about this it took you 10 years to get that watch so each scratch and each scuff Represents how long it took you to find that piece

Love the Daytona Eric. Re finish the Watch. Get that new bezel on it after the professional polish and rock and roll buddy. Don’t leave it like that. It probably drives you nuts looking like that.

Now that’s a great watch!!!!

beautiful watch, service when the mvt needs it, leave the rest alone. I do not have any of mine polished when servicing, they need some character. Plus as you mentioned, you probably won't wear it if it looks new.

Great story! That’s what our hobby is all about.

We have similar good taste. Diver, Safari and now a Zenith in common. Managed to pick mine up for 7k. Sub dIal location is is so much better balanced in the Zenith than the later models. Also great if the sub dials go a bit "patrizzi" darker.

That’s a super classic piece…..congrats.

Leave it as is. Classic beauty. Old school tradition.

Love the dial 100%

Hey Eric, That`s a awesome example and I love vintage , I`m a believer of Rolex service and would hold onto all original parts first. But have them restore the watch to new and just enjoy it ,that`s my 2 cents . Beautiful ! Great job !

Keep it like this, can always pollish it up when you ever sell it

I like it. Please to polish 🎉🎉and clean up. Change the band for it look more newer ❤❤😅😅😊

Enjoy and wear it in good health. Congratulations!

Sweet watch!!

Love that the watch looks like it has had a life.

Refinish the watch 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

Congrats brother

Leave it as is. Congrats 🎉

Finally man! This is 10x better than a 116520 or a ceramic!

Congratulations, I would leave it and enjoy. Then when something else comes along down the line and I'm not wearing it much , then I would refinish.

Your watch, my advise don’t do anything but if you replace anything just keep the original parts. Rolex LA hooked me up keeping my watch original. Good on you for getting this!

classic!

Nice piece

Nice, dude!

Wear it in good health Eric and keep it as it is. Maybe check the WR and just enjoy it

The Daytona.... Just a magical watch.

Eric, where can I find that red bracelet you always wear?

I bought my white dial SS Zenith in 1999 at an AD for $5,500. It is the moment in my life I will never forget. Mine has no scratches. I love it.

Very cool man

Yes refinish. It just looks better.

super pickup . ~ JDS

I found a 2000 full set for $32,500 in good condition. Hard to find comps so is it really a good deal? Unclear.

Leave it as is bro! Let this beauty speak for itself.

Hi Eric keep it as it is please.Thanks

Rock it like the rockstar it is. If you change your mind later well ok! I know you can’t go back after you went there bro 😎 🔥

1) boss pickup 2) don’t polish 3) what are the sunglasses in your thumbnail?

Congrats! A Daytona is always a good investment. Keep it and see the price in 10yrs. El Primero is a great investment - Cograts Eric!

The real bargain now is the Zenith El Primero Rainbow diver with screw down pushers and no flashy colours. Still can be had for about $4000

Leave it a pristine virgin wear and enjoy. You have the bezel and the refinishers ready to go … no rush.

I also want to have modern Rolex , my favorite 16570 white face.

refinish the watch... 100%

Congratulations Eric 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏So happy for you my dear friend 👍👍👍👍😎😎😎😎

Eric. I completely understand leaving the watch alone and enjoying the patina, but your a polish guy! Your car and all your belongings are polished and pristine. I suggest you clean her up. I bet you would like it even more.

great acquisition ... do not touch the watch and check the movement number just to be sure ...

Keep it original just like you my brother🖖🖖

You should keep it as is Eric, it has a story; had a great life before..You would regret it. About sending it to Rolex? You would be crazy! Cheers, enjoy your new jewel!!!