Daniel Roth Premiere Retrograde: Vintage Review

Speedie74 aka Mr. Torquise · 2022-03-12T18:01:36Z

Explore the Daniel Roth Premiere Retrograde, a rare NOS find. Discover its unique design, pointer date complication, and collector insights on its place in horological history.

Adam, known as Speedie74 aka Mr. Torquise, presents a remarkable New Old Stock (NOS) Daniel Roth Premiere Retrograde, acquired in 2022. His detailed photographs and enthusiastic commentary highlight the watch's distinctive 'eggshell-coloured' dial, vertical guilloché, and heated blue hands. This article delves into the unique charm of this specific Daniel Roth reference and explores the community's insights on its design and historical context.

NOS from 2022!

Dear Mates, without much further ado, please let the photos to speak instead of me:

What an eggshell-coloured dial!

I am in love!

Please see the vertical guiiloched dial, the heated blue hands, the arabic numerals filled with superluminova!

Sharp contours for the dial, which is not salmon, but almost:

I am like a kid in a candy shop: catching a brand new, NOS Daniel Roth from an AD in 2022 is like to win on the lottery…

The watch comes original with a stainless steel bracelet, but I save it for the summertime, when the weather will be better!

I am so glad, I am so glad, I am glad am glad am glad!

Truly yours,

Adam

Key Points from the Discussion

The term 'pointer date' refers to any date display where a hand indicates the day number, regardless of whether it's on the outer ring or a sub-dial. This is often preferred over date windows for its elegance.
The author clarifies that 'handdate' is an interchangeable and accurate term for a pointer date complication, emphasizing that the common feature is the use of a hand to display the date.
Early Daniel Roth models, particularly chronographs, were primarily produced in gold with hand-wound Lemania movements. The Premiere Retrograde model discussed is a later production, distinguishing it from these initial offerings.
There's a strong community preference for pointer dates and dateless watches over date windows, especially those awkwardly positioned. However, exceptions are made for well-executed 'big date' complications from brands like Glashütte Original or A. Lange & Söhne.
Daniel Roth watches, including retrograde models, saw a period of significant affordability on the grey market after the 2008 economic crisis, making them accessible to collectors at that time.
The author's personal taste evolved over two decades; a model he initially disliked in the 2000s now holds significant appeal, demonstrating how design appreciation can change over time.

The Discussion

LiftAngle51

Mar 12, 2022

Congrats Adam

No date window is a win win.

Speedie74 aka Mr. Torquise

Mar 12, 2022

Well,

there is no date window if you have a pointer date. Thanks for your compliments!

LiftAngle51

Mar 12, 2022

Great help

Thanks a lot. Pointer date is when a hand aim a day number. I thought that the term was only with watches with a large hand that reach the outer ring of a dial where the days displayed to 31 days. So small day hand pointers, sometimes seen also in a sub dial are pointer dates too. Far more elegant than a window cut out of the dial and a white date disc hidden under the dial turn when a day ends. I will no longer collect watches with a date window, because pointer dates and dateless watches are d

Speedie74 aka Mr. Torquise

Mar 12, 2022

I totally understand your point of view, Weems!

There is nothing more frustrated than an unpositioned date window, but sometimes it works: the big dates by Glashütte Original or Lange&Söhne are very characteristics. As for the pointer date: they are usually on the outer ring of the dial - like at the Master Control series from Jaeger - but sometimes situated by subdials, as here. I think the definition is the same and it is irrelevant, how and where it works, every pointer date has one common feature: they show the date with a help of a hand.

LiftAngle51

Mar 12, 2022

Bingo

Handdate is the right word for such a complication. The discussions about dates are often here at the community. If i would stand in the shoes of the houses than it would drive me crazy. For example the houses that put the date window at the 5 o’clock position or between 4 and 5 o’clock on one of their models are in wild waters. I know in my head a model from VC an Overseas that have the date window positioned on an uncommon spot. Would u skip it for it?

111forza

Mar 12, 2022

Beautiful

Congratulations 👏

Daniel Roth Premiere Retrograde: Vintage Review

Key Points from the Discussion

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