I am feeling a strange sense of deja vu. There’s either a glitch in the Matrix, or we’ve already had these watches duke it out in Sunday Morning Showdown. Well, sort of, as that fight was on equal terms with the latest luxury replica Rolex Daytona with Cerachrom bezel taking on the “Ed White” with ceramic bezel. They were also essentially the same price of around CHF 13,000. Even though this was only July of last year, the “Ed White” is now closer to CHF 15,000 at retail, whereas the Swiss fake Rolex Daytona has primarily remained the same price. We all recognize these are the theoretical prices, as the demand still far outweighs the supply for both models.
There’s a different AAA fake Rolex Daytona coming out of the pitlane within this competition, though. I’m bringing out the reference 116520 that existed in the catalog from 2000-2016, with marked iterations in between. The model was discontinued just before the release of the latest 1:1 copy Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN. As the 116520 no longer exists at retail, we can only compare these models using the pre-owned market value.
From Chrono24, the black dial 116520 has an average value of around CHF 30,000. Even though the “Ed White” is available now with a waitlist, some wishing to skip the wait will pay a premium of roughly CHF 18,000. So, on paper, the “Ed White” has more bang per buck with its aftermarket value. But if we are talking racing chronographs, the high quality replica Rolex Daytona has the upper hand.
The Daytona DNA
For sure, the eponymous Ed White strapping two Speedmaster 105.003s (on which the Calibre 321 is based) on his spacesuit during the first-ever spacewalk is an iconic moment in time. With such a vivid image burned into watch enthusiasts’ psyche, it’s challenging to disassociate the super clone Omega Speedmaster from space. There is a racing pedigree in the Speedmaster, no doubt. Since F1 legend and team principal Sir Frank Williams’s passing, multiple pictures surfaced of Sir Frank wearing his ref. 105.012. Sir Frank’s era was in the barnstorming days of Formula One in the ’70s. There wasn’t a manual, and solutions were conjured on the fly. Alongside Sir Frank was his trusty Speedmaster to time his cars and seek improvements.
But when it comes to the Rolex Daytona replica for sale, racing is in its DNA. Watch any motorsport coverage, and you’re bound to see a Daytona on the wrist of a pundit, driver, team principal, or even the CEO of Formula One. The cheap copy Rolex Daytona has cemented itself as the de facto chronograph for those that live and breathe the sport. You could say the same for the Speedmaster in the space program, but this is The Fast And The Fratelli. Only the raciest of chronographs deserve a spot in the finals.