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Lot Essay
The classic combination of the white gold case and blue sodalite hardstone dial is one of the most beautiful ever created for the Daytona line, but the present example pushes the boundaries of both rarity and attractiveness even further with the addition of the diamond-set numerals.
While the appearance of the blue sodalite dial material and the diamond-set numerals on the same watch is enough to have the heads of Dayonta aficionados spin, a third detail propels this piece to new collectible heights: it bears un underline dial.
Underline dials are a very rare beast, and are known in at least two “flavors”. The first appearance of the underline is in the early 1960s on a number of Rolex models, not only the Daytona. It is accepted that that underline indicates the presence of tritium rather than radium on the dial, and it is considered one of the most appealing feature to have on a Rolex timepiece.
The present examples of underline is a completely different animal. In terms of rarity, it far surpasses its earlier sibling as it is known only on a handful of Daytona timepieces from the beginning of the century. The reason for its presence is still debated. Obviously, at this point in time it has no links whatsoever with radium or tritium: both compounds having been superseded by Luminova in 1998. The most probable explanation for it is that it is the result of a batch of dials with a printing mistake which eluded Rolex quality controls and made it to the market. Alternatively it has been hypothesized that the line served as an alignment guide for the lines of text, or that it might be an aesthetic detail tested on very few dials.
While the origin of this dial might be shrouded in mystery, on the contrary the rarity, appeal and collectability it grants to this timepiece are clear without the trace of a doubt. Considering that the watch is offered together with box and Guarantee, this might be a virtually unique opportunity for the collector of extraordinary timepieces.
While the appearance of the blue sodalite dial material and the diamond-set numerals on the same watch is enough to have the heads of Dayonta aficionados spin, a third detail propels this piece to new collectible heights: it bears un underline dial.
Underline dials are a very rare beast, and are known in at least two “flavors”. The first appearance of the underline is in the early 1960s on a number of Rolex models, not only the Daytona. It is accepted that that underline indicates the presence of tritium rather than radium on the dial, and it is considered one of the most appealing feature to have on a Rolex timepiece.
The present examples of underline is a completely different animal. In terms of rarity, it far surpasses its earlier sibling as it is known only on a handful of Daytona timepieces from the beginning of the century. The reason for its presence is still debated. Obviously, at this point in time it has no links whatsoever with radium or tritium: both compounds having been superseded by Luminova in 1998. The most probable explanation for it is that it is the result of a batch of dials with a printing mistake which eluded Rolex quality controls and made it to the market. Alternatively it has been hypothesized that the line served as an alignment guide for the lines of text, or that it might be an aesthetic detail tested on very few dials.
While the origin of this dial might be shrouded in mystery, on the contrary the rarity, appeal and collectability it grants to this timepiece are clear without the trace of a doubt. Considering that the watch is offered together with box and Guarantee, this might be a virtually unique opportunity for the collector of extraordinary timepieces.