Mike H
[AHCI Moderator]
10998
When less is more... Part III
To continue my saga of vintage Rollies, I obviously could not go further without a Daytona.
The question would then be which one… : the 16520 carrying the famous 4030 movement derived from the Zenith El Primero ? or its successor 116520 having the in-house movement 4130 ? Or maybe the latest 116500 that everybody is running after ?
Well they are all good choices but… because less is more I had to pick one only and my choice went for a 16520 full of character the well known Patrizzi dial version in its original W series version…
IMHO that is a very cool version so easy to wear in every circumstance…
I love its even warm caramel/honey patina maybe less sought after than darker patinas but this is the one I love...
Please do not ask me if it is "unpo" or not because this is not the point : for me what is important is that the dial gives me the WOW effect, the lugs are thick, and that the clasp code of the strong bracelet matches with the W series. The full set with punched papers is a nice cherry on the cake even if I carry the watch only on my wrist without the papers 
LOL
LOL
Shall I tell you what ? Even if the real Rolex boys will shout on me I have to confess that I like it a lot not only on its 78390 Oyster bracelet but also on a bespoke strap I had made for it with a color matching the subdials…
After all what is important is to get pleasure out of our watches and be excited by them everytime we watch the time …
…
Believe me this one gives me intense pleasure
Mike
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When less is more... Part III
To continue my saga of vintage Rollies, I obviously could not go further without a Daytona. The question would then be which one… : the 16520 carrying the famous 4030 movement derived from the Zenith El Primero ? or its successor 116520 having the in-hous...
Nope my friend, just sharing for our mutual pleasure...
And guess what, wait for Part IV if you want to feel you need cool air to breathe
Great Rolex 16520 with beautiful patina on the subdials
Your choice of strap and bracelet is a great way to enjoy the different identities you get. Thanks for this new installment of less is more. Bill
Very happy to have a 16520 on my collection also.
I do really like the more subtle colour of your sub dials, it's just enough in my opinion.
You did very well, Mike. This one is even more gorgeous in the " metal ". Next time we meet, I will have to take pictures of it. Really sublime.
That will be one of my next targets, a black dialed 16520. My favorite Rolex Daytona Reference! Best, Mike. And congratulations! Nicolas
With pleasure dear Nico, whenever you want ;-)
And yes I confirm you should catch the train before it goes to fast, it has left the station a while ago at a reasonable path but it is accelerating now…
and an ambassador of Rolex , he was the first who fitted
the 116509 WG black white arab on his 116520 in Geneva , therofere it s called the Tom Kristensen Daytona . ...
I am not a lawyer and don't know much about the case but...
...did you know that after eight years of intense investigation Osvaldo Patrizzi has been fully acquitted. I am neither his advocate nor a fan of O. Patrizzi but I only say that the justice has fully deeply intensely investigated his case and finally conc...
Another killer, you weren’t joking about the best!!! Mine says high 😃
An early 1990 on 2000 bracelet ...
The choice is a simple one.
The 16520 is the best Daytona ever made. Yes even over the 6263 and all previous and post models. For me it represents a model which infected my soul and is what really made me fall in love with the brand even though subs and GMT’s had been on my wrist fo...
My Favourite 16520.
1988 R786 Porcelain dial Full set. Even better this watch came with none lume hands. Had my name on it all those years ago. M. ...
Bless you. But I’m not sure people realise how seriously rare these early Porcelain dials are.
If there are 20 that’s it. Compare that to all the PN’s and Nautilus’ our there. 😉😉🙈👍🏼 M.
Indeed M this porcelain dial is more rare than rare !
You really have la creme de la creme with this piece also ! Huge congrats to you and thanks for the nice pic
Thank you Mike.
You are welcome for the pics. It’s not an easy dial to capture the true beauty of. M.
Thank you my friend.
Maybe we are a similar age as I think the 16520 is a special watch for many around my age. It was certainly a watch I aspired to and dreamt of owning as a young man. M.
The porcelain dial is a killer, the Patrizzi too ...
I have a " simple" U série, but the subdials have a light brown color ... ...
Great watch....but for me the 16520 to have
is the very earliest iterations the porcelain dial or floating cosmograph as these are designed and manufactured with outstanding one off features that seperates them from every Daytona that succeeds them but has design features eg 200mph bezels that echo...
Couldn’t agree more J.
I remember you love for the 16520 back in the day. Good to see you here BTW. Miles.
Wished I had bought one when I had the chance.......but my TT bent lead to this little treasure..........
Always liked that fab dial on the 16520 of yours, I remember well when you first got it ...
Yes I remember you getting yours also.
Good old days my friend. Lovely TT you have. M.
If we only knew back then what we know now....
.I still would have bought the TT LOL! Remember Derek's NOS B&P Porcelain dial 16520....good old days was life more innocent then? Of course not forgetting someone's PN. All the best regards John
lol. I did know back then.....
Which was why I needed a Porcelain dial. Yes MD’s was a peach of a watch. To be fair though he did get £25k for it 😉😉 One thing is for sure.... a time machine would be great. It would now appear people don’t mind if their PN dials are fake or baked. I cou...
One thing I've learnt in life
you can never have enough money no matter how much you have......so settle for what you have and make the most of it...................haven't done a day of work in the last 8 years+ and still a few years off official retirement age.........Apologies to M...
Hindsight ...... we’d all be wise.
If only hey. You keep your feet up my friend I’m sure you’ve done your bit over the years. Yes M would wish he still had it I’m sure but he bought a lovely 5970g with the proceeds if I remember correctly. M.
Great post Mike! Absolutely agree that it is important to add
pleasure and excitement to the reading of time when wearing an awesome watch on the wrist! That's part of the joy of owning beautiful watches and wearing them! Of course a Patrizzi dial on a 16520 adds a Wow Factor to that superb watch! Your example is si...
Wonderful my friend
I believe that reference is the best Daytona I am buying another Rolex in the near future it’s going to be this one and another GMT