Monthly Archives: April 2022

Today, I would like to introduce the “Pan Am Daytona”. It is not often that we come across a brand new discovery in the world of Rolex. Having traveled the world for many years for my passion for vintage Rolex, I may have examined most of the rarest Rolexes up close, but when I first saw the “Pan Am”, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Especially after the fake Rolex Daytona reached cult status, with all the articles and studies written about it, specialized books appearing on the market, and Christie’s holding an auction dedicated to the Daytona last year, it’s hard to even imagine anything that no one has ever seen before we’re not talking here about a known configuration of a different metal or a printed subdial difference. Nor is it a prototype. No, the “Panamerican” Cosmograph is rewriting history on its own, as it was the first “special order” delivered by Rolex to the United States, and is therefore extremely important to Rolex’s legacy.
For those of you who don’t know much about all the Daytona versions, you can study them in the Rolex books by John Goldberger or Pucci Papaleo, and I will explain to you the important details of the “Pan Am Daytona”. First, of course, we immediately notice the blue “Pan Am” logo. In order for the “Pan Am” logo to be printed in the middle of the upper half, the “Rolex” and “Oyster” had to be moved higher to place the logo. So instead of using the existing dial to add this special custom logo, replica Rolex had to create a newly printed cliché for this Pan Am by adding the model name near the 6 o’clock position: “Cosmograph” ……
So far, we only know this particular Rolex dial layout from the “Oman” and “Qaboos” Daytona, where the Sultan’s Khanjar or signature insignia is printed on the dial and is clearly visible. Everyone in the Rolex collecting community believes that the special order of Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed Al Said at the British Rolex representation “Asprey” are the only known Rolex replica watches. But in fact, the “Panamericana” Daytona, the inspiration for Rolex’s later Arabian Daytona, was not made out of thin air but was made after Rolex made the Panamericana. Do you want to know how I know this? Simple, the serial number of the “Pan Am” Cosmograph is 3.5xx.xxx, while the serial number of the Arabian is 3.65x.xxx, thus later in Rolex’s production. The serial number of the “Pan Am” is engraved as usual between the lugs, as we see in the “Special Order”, and also on the case back, where they are identical.
So far, RPR-PAB-Daytona Rolex has been linked to Pan Am for the official delivery of the GMT Master to their pilots. We have seen many advertisements in which both companies proudly show their collaboration. Reference 6263 “Panamax” as it is found in all original condition with black gumwood. It was most likely made by Rolex in 1973 particularly for the CEO of Pan Am to celebrate their successful partnership of many years at the time. I’m still working my way through official Pan Am and Rolex documents to clarify its provenance. Once I know more, I will report back.