The charming blue dial Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master copy watch, a sailors’ watch introduced in 1992, underwent a major facelift recently in both its design and technology. In 2012, Rolex released a version with an Oyster case made of its patented alloy Rolesium, and a cool, blue dial with brushed sunray pattern.
Rolesium, a material developed by Rolex and used here in the Yacht-Master’s 40-mm diameter Oyster case, is an alloy of 904L stainless steel and platinum. The bezel, which rotates in both directions and now has a notched ring with 120 gradations, is made entirely of 950 platinum. It has a smooth, sand-blasted finish, except for the raised numerals and indices, which are polished. The hour markers on the nautical-looking blue dial are made of 18k white gold and filled with a luminescent material called Chromalight, which gives off a strong, blue-tinted glow in the dark. Rolex’s traditional Oyster case — with a middle piece crafted from a solid block of the corrosion-resistant alloy and a fluted, hermetically screwed caseback — is water-resistant to 100 meters. The screw-down crown is protected by a crown guard built into the middle case and also features the patented Triplock water-proofing system. Another Rolex trademark — the “Cyclops” magnifying lens over the date, is found at 3 o’clock and made of highly scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire.
Inside the Yacht-Master beats Rolex’s manufacture Caliber 3135, an automatic movement that has been certified by the Swiss testing agency COSC as a chronometer. Like other Rolex movements, it features an oscillating system with a blue hairspring made of Parachrom, an alloy developed and patented by Rolex. According to the company, this hairspring is highly resistant to shocks, magnetic fields and temperature variations, which ensures greater stability in timekeeping precision.
A sold-link Oyster bracelet in 904L stainless steel completes the package, with polished center links and satin-finished outer links. The improved Oysterlock safety clasp, another patented Rolex development, has a security system to prevent accidental opening and also contains the Easylink quick-extension technology, which lets the wearer easily increase the bracelet length by about 5 mm. Technical specs for the big calendar Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master fake watches (retail price: $11,550) can be found below the photo.
MOVEMENT
Rolex manufacture Caliber 3135, bidirectional self-winding via perpetual rotor; COSC-certified chronometer; 31 jewels; frequency = 28,800 vph (4 Hz); Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring with Breguet overcoil; large balance wheel with variable inertia;h igh-precision regulating via four gold Microstella nuts; traversing balance bridge
FUNCTIONS:
Central hour, minute and seconds hands; instantaneous date at 3 o’clock with quick setting; stop-seconds function for precise time setting
CASE
Oyster (monobloc middle case, screw-down caseback and winding crown) made of Rolesium (combination of 904L stainless steel superalloy and 950 platinum); polished finish; diameter = 40 mm; bidirectional rotating bezel made of 950 platinum, sand-blasted finish, polished raised graduations; screw-down crown with crown guard and Triplock triple water-proofing system; scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with Cyclops lens over date and double nonreflective coating; water-resistant to 100 meters; stainless-steel Oyster bracelet with polished center links and satin-finished outer links with polished edges; folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink 5-mm extension
DIAL & HANDS
Blue dial with sunray finish, 18k white-gold hands and appliques with Chromalight for long-lasting luminescence, red seconds hand
It is quite amazing how one person can have such an enduring impact on an industry. It is unparalleled to be so influential that the DNA of their designs are embedded in so many different watches, from a wide array of brands. I, of course, am referring to Gerald Genta. In 1976, after having already penned the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus, Gerald Genta re-designed the Ingenieur for IWC, dubbed the Ingenieur SL.
This was at the height of the “quartz crisis”, however, and the Ingenieur SL was a flop with just about 550 pieces sold.
Evolution of the Ingenieur
Over the years to come, IWC introduced various references of the Ingenieur with quartz and mecha-quartz movements until, finally, the model was again refreshed with an in-house automatic movement in 2005. The evolution continued when in 2013, to mark their partnership with Formula 1 team Mercedes AMG, IWC introduced several models with racing inspired designs and high-tech materials.
These watches ranged from a simple time-only sports watch to serious haute horology with a constant-force tourbillon. It was at this time that IWC also debuted the calendar Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium copy watches, reference 3865. This watch was true to the Formula 1 design ethos with a titanium case and functional bezel screws made from ceramic. However, the standout of this piece, is the double chronograph movement allowing you to time intervals with the press of a rubber-clad pusher.
Powering the Double Chronograph
The movement inside the Ingenieur Double Chronograph is a unique modification of the Valjoux 7750 that is protected by an anti-magnetic soft-iron cage. In 1992 Richard Habring invented a module that would bring the split-second chronograph complication to a much more attainable price level and integrated it to the 7750 calibre. What all this means is you get a reliable, tried and true base movement, that has been through the wringer in countless watches for over 40 years, and a high-end complication to boot. Hard to beat the horological bang-for-your-buck offered here.
If you’re not familiar with the split-second chronograph function, here is an explanation from IWC:
Unlike a standard chronograph, the split-seconds chronograph has two hands that start simultaneously. The rattrapante or split-seconds hand, which is superimposed on the stopwatch hand, can be stopped independently using a third button at “10 o’clock”, while the stopwatch hand continues to run. This permits the user to record two separate times, precisely to the second, within any given minute. If the third button is pushed again, the split-seconds hand instantaneously catches up and is synchronized with the other hand. The process can be repeated as often as desired.
IWC’s design of the chronograph pushers is great in this execution. They are low-profile and shaped to mimic the outline of the case so they are very unobtrusive. In many rattrapante watches the pushers can be a bit gaudy.
The unidirectional winding automatic rotor in the Valjoux 7750 is notorious for it’s characteristic “wobble” and loud clicks as it spins the mainspring up to 44 hours of power reserve. Some collectors find this trait endearing, while others find it quite annoying. Regardless of your point of view on that issue, IWC has somehow managed to eliminate the wobble and almost completely silence the spinning of the rotor, resulting in a smooth and unnoticeable winding operation.
Case Design
After IWC finishes their modifications, the movement is placed inside a 45mm wide, 16mm high case rated to be water resistant to 120 meters. There is no doubt that this is a large sport oriented watch but, fortunately, because of the titanium construction it doesn’t feel oversized and is actually comfortable to wear all day. If the case was steel, you’d certainly need a break at some point. The tapered rubber strap is integrated into the case at an angle that allows it to conform to your wrist with almost no pressure points. I would have preferred a deployant clasp to the tang buckle that comes on the watch but, that is certainly not a show-stopper.
Wearing the Ingenieur
In daily-wear, this really is a fun watch. The silvered three-dimensional dial is far from boring; with black applied indexes that create a stark contrast making it very easy to read the time at a glance. This is further enhanced by the sapphire crystal treated with an anti-reflective coating on both sides. In addition to the split-second function, the chronograph keeps track of time for up to 12 hours via two sub dials, and there is a quick-change day and date indication for good measure. As I alluded to earlier, the chrono pushers, screw-down crown, and crown guards are all clad in rubber, making them easy to grip and use. The luminescent hands IWC fake wacthes will totally change your life.
I’ve been doing hands-on reviews for a few years now but, I experienced something for the very first time with this watch: I didn’t wear any other watches while I had it. From the moment I received it, to the painful departure when I sent it back, I was obsessed with this watch. IWC has built a surefire winner with this one. A few years ago IWC had the marketing slogan, “Engineered for Men.”
TUNED TO PERFECTION. Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen apparently enjoys a close partnership with Mercedes-AMG, the sports car arm of Mercedes Benz
This year IWC Schaffhausen celebrates its partner’s 50th anniversary with a special limited edition model from the Ingenieur family. The white dial of the Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition “50th Anniversary of Mercedes-AMG” copy watch is a clear nod to the classic red-white-and-black color combinations typically found at racetracks.
The 44mm titanium case IWC fake watches also seems quite fitting for such a sporty timepiece, while the flyback chronograph perfectly illustrates the shared passion between the two companies for precision engineering.
The stainless steel case Rolex Daytona 116520 copy watches have been with us for over 16 years, from its debut in 2000 until its replacement, the part-ceramic 116500 (hands-on here) debuted in 2016. The steel Daytona has not only been a rare bird that Rolex has often made extremely difficult to obtain, but also an icon among luxury chronographs. I had one around for a couple of weeks and, not too long after starting to wear it, I asked myself the question: is the steel Daytona a real watch lover’s watch? Has it aged well? Has it retained its magic, or has its fame made it let its guard down as competition became fiercer every year? Lots of questions on my mind, so I set off seeking answers.
First Cosmograph Daytona, 1963First Cosmograph Daytona, 1963. Source: Rolex
A Brief, Non-Teary-Eyed Recap Of The History Of The Rolex Daytona
There’s a saying in Hungarian that, in direct translation, goes like “it’s coming out my elbow by now.” Although, come to think of it, I am not quite sure how this scientifically questionable saying caught on, the Daytona’s history at this point may very well be coming out your elbow too – you have heard it so many times.
If you have no friends and want to make sure it stays that way, try and meet new ones in hotel lobbies, or on the internet, mocking everything, all the time. Alternatively, just learn these numbers and use them often at public gatherings: 6239, 6240, 6262, 6269, 16520, 116520. There are more of these Daytona references, but these shall already suffice to keep decent and fun human beings from spending too much time around you, should you talk about these frequently. The emphasis is on not calling everything by its reference all the time like a total douche – and not on being ignorant about watch history.
Rolex Reference 4113 Split-Seconds Chronograph from around 1942. Source: Phillips
Although Rolex has been producing chronographs since at least the thirties, the Daytona’s history can actually be traced back to the fifties, when Rolex made a few chronographs which they at times rather unimaginatively titled “Chronograph.” The five lines of boasting on watch dials was but a mere dream at that point. Rolex appears to not really want you to know much about these ousted models – not one pre-Daytona chronograph is in their otherwise really quite detailed history page, nor is one in their yet more detailed history page on their press-only site.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERARolex Monoblocco Oyster Chronograph Antimagnetic Ref. 3525: a medical chronograph in stainless steel from around 1941. Source: Antiquorum
In a nutshell, the so-called “pre-Daytona” history that you may want to know is the fact that the Cosmograph name Rolex registered as early as 1955, and that the reference 6238, introduced in 1961 (some sources say 1963), was a solid-looking Cosmograph that didn’t yet have the Daytona name added to it. What Rolex does want you to know is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 6239 from 1963, the first “proper Daytona.” It was nicknamed “Daytona” after Rolex’s association with the Daytona International Speedway began in 1962. Still, to date, the full name of the Daytona is Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona.
MOVEMENT 4130Rolex Daytona 16520 powered by a modified Zenith El Primero, circa 1997. Source: Luca Musumeci
Let us leap into the future, leaving the rest of Rolex Daytona history – filled with weird, fascinating and rare references – to you to research, and get straight to the Rolex Daytona reference 16520. Notice the 5-digit reference as opposed to the modern variants’ 6-digit number. Introduced in 1988 and in production until 2000, the 16520 is often referred to as the “Zenith Daytona” as it was equipped with the Rolex 4030 caliber, a movement based on the Zenith El Primero that Rolex modified mainly by fitting a different escape wheel and hairspring, and by dropping its operating frequency from the El Primero’s famed 5Hz to 4Hz. Before 1988, Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas used hand-wound, Valjoux-based calibers.
First Cosmograph Daytona equiped with the 4130 movement, 2000Rolex 4130 caliber. Source: Rolex
2000 saw the debut of the Rolex Daytona 116520 and with it the famed Rolex 4130 caliber that is, of course, beating inside this review unit as well as the latest, 2016-generation of the Daytona. The dials and the bracelet have also been changed around 2000, but this is not a comparison between these earlier models, so let’s concentrate on this review’s 16-year-standing “Steel Daytona” – as is called in hush whispers among watch enthusiasts who have been familiarized with the stupendously long waiting lists and stratospheric, albeit reportedly self-inflicted exclusivity of it.
First – and quite bad-ass – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona equipped with the 4130 movement, 2000. Source: Rolex
About Why The Steel Daytona Has Been So Difficult To Get
I mean, I dare not think how many articles, forum posts, Q&A’s I have read and discussions I have had about the Rolex Daytona, and a lot of them at least touched upon this remarkable exclusivity of the steel Daytona. If you had the gold one it just meant you had more money to spend on it, but in watch enthusiast circles rocking a steel one to this day means you likely dedicated a lot of effort in hunting one of these down – if it were to come from authorized sources, that is.
RODS OF 904L STAINLESS STEEL
One thing I hand on heart do not recall reading or hearing is what could very well be the real reason for the limited availability of the steel Daytona: its movement (and, since its 2016 update, which we’ll look at in a separate review, the ceramic bezel), that is very costly and difficult to produce. Time and again we see brands painstakingly develop complicated movements or other features which they will only make available in precious metal cased versions – even if other models of the same brand do come in steel. The reason behind this tactic is that the much higher mark-up on precious metal cases help cover the very high costs of both the development and the manufacturing of said new movements or features.
Rods of 904L stainless steel. Source: Rolex
Just to find a most fitting example from Rolex’s recent past: the new “Pepsi” GMT-Master II (hands-on here) with its bi-color, massive-pain-in-the-neck-to-make ceramic bezel, that (some say, and I agree) to date comes exclusively in white gold because the bezel is just too difficult and costly to make in the price range and in the volume of steel GMTs. Based on what I learned about manufacturing colored ceramics, I’ll go so far as to say the source of the issue is in the pigments used to color it as pigments don’t take the heat required to produce ceramic quite well and often form faulty areas in the surface. The “Batman” or “BLNR” is a modern steel GMT that has a bi-color ceramic bezel, but with two easier-to-produce colors. Okay, we got super side-tracked here.
All this was to say that steel Daytona supplies have been consistently limited likely because it has a movement that was and perhaps still is very difficult and expensive to produce up to Rolex standards at steel Rolex price points – even if the white luminescent indexes Rolex Daytona 116520 fake watches‘ retail price has admittedly almost doubled between 2000 and 2015.
Some Food For Thought Concerning The Daytona’s Allure – And If It’ll Last
Cutting straight to the chase, the Rolex Daytona 116520 changes its looks like few other watches do: it can quickly (and without notice!) transform from being one of the most versatile, elegant and sporty watches to one of the most boring and sedative timekeepers. I wish I didn’t have to, but feel like I should, so I’ll say that design preferences and the effects of a watch’s aesthetic are down to personal preferences, so your experience may differ from mine – but I will say there’s a good chance that some time into wearing the steel Daytona you’ll come to a similar conclusion as mine.
The Daytona provides one unquestionably iconic aesthetic and beholding a piece of that can feel both rewarding and infirmative. Here’s my issue with it: most iconic designs that you see gazillions around you are only appreciated by die-hard fans and enthusiasts if said designs have fascinating details and numerous variables. Think of the 911, for example. It’s everywhere, but you can change its specification, not to mention various special editions, limited production runs, technological variations and other factors; so, while a considerable percentage of 911 drivers may be yahoos who know nothing about the car, true enthusiasts remain loyal because there are always details that they find fascinating.
This steel Rolex Daytona 116520, over its 16-years, I feel, has failed to offer a refreshing range of fascinating details – let alone offer many of them. Even tracking the serial numbers and production years have been killed off in 2011 with the introduction of soulless random serials. Rolex’s reasons to keep things this very consistent are to be discussed in a separate article – because this does happen for a few logical reasons – but their cumulative effect on the steel Daytona ownership experience are very much relevant here.
