Today I would like to share a very special story with you, a story that begins on a lazy winter day.
A dear friend and client of ours sent us a very blurry image accompanied by the message, “I have an acquaintance in Florence who claims to own a first-series Daytona Porcelain; I don’t know much about it, but are you interested in buying it?”
Somewhat puzzled, we looked at the picture received, which, although of very poor quality, seemed to depict a Rolex Daytona ref. 16523 with a rare porcelain dial.
After evaluating the asking price and the potential risks, we decided to schedule an appointment with the owner to finalize the purchase of the watch.

The next morning, I had already arrived in Florence and was very curious to visit the hotel where I would be staying for the next two days.
The hotel I had chosen is the famous Hotel L’OROLOGIO, a truly special place for watch lovers.
The owner is a well-known watch collector who has decided to adorn his hotel with all kinds of memorabilia from important brands like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, etc…
Additionally, each room in the hotel is dedicated to a watch from his collection.
Incredible, but true!







After visiting the entire hotel, it was time to prepare for the meeting with the owner of the Rolex Daytona 162523 with a porcelain dial.
As you can see from the following photos, I was well organized!

The meeting was to take place in the Loungebar of the Hotel, undoubtedly the coolest location where I have ever purchased a watch!

After showing me the watch, the owner of the Daytona told me that it belonged to his father and, after his death, the watch had always been kept in a safe because he was aware that it could be a very valuable watch.
The watch was in worn condition but completely original. The typical 3D effect of the porcelain dial was very evident.
Unfortunately, the original box and papers were lost, but the watch was accompanied by an official Rolex service certificate.
After a brief discussion about the price, we moved to the nearest bank and closed the deal.

Happy with my new watch, I decided to spend a few hours strolling through the beautiful Florence!






But now let’s analyze the watch and its components more technically and accurately.
As you can see from the following photos, the watch has been worn over the years, but it has never been polished.
Additionally, every component of the watch is period-correct for a first-series Rolex Daytona:
- Serial R
- Porcelain Dial with separated “Cosmograph” text
- 200 UPH Bezel
- Case back marked 16500
- Movement number 12XXX
The dial, the most important part of this watch, is simply fantastic and in exceptional condition.
There are no cracks or marks, not even under a 20x loupe, and equally important, the 3D effect is clearly visible to the naked eye.







