Saturday, October 19, 2013

What is Patrizzi Dial and Tropical Dial?



Lamborghini's CEO Stephan Winklemann and His Daytona


"What is a Patrizzi dial?" According to Jake’s Rolex, Osvaldo Patrizzi began his career in Milano, Italia and went on to become the founder of the Antiquorum Auction House. Osvaldo Patrizzi is recognized as the first person to recognize watches as real objects of art, and was responsible for creating the fine watch auction marketplace.

The term "Patrizzi Dial" was originally coined because Osvaldo Patrizzi was the first person to recognize that some vintage Rolex watches had dials where certain parts of them developed a brown patina over time that gave them a beautifully aged character.

Osvaldo Patrizzi was a collector of rare Rolex models and in 2006 he put up his collection for sale which included one of these rare Daytona watches. Osvaldo Patrizzi's Daytona sold for twice as much money, and people started referring to them as Patrizzi Dial Daytona models.

So if you look closely at Lamborghini CEO, Stephan Winkelmann's Rolex Daytona, you notice it has the brown colored sub-dials, commonly referred to as a Patrizzi Dial.

Vintage Rolex watches that have discolored dials that have developed a beautiful patina are typically referred to as "Tropical" dials and if the dial is original, they typically sell for a huge premium. Here is an example of a beautiful tropical dial Rolex.

Paul Newman and the Tropical Dial Daytona. Chocolate Dial!

HK Snob
Watch Fever
Ref Jakes' Rolex 

No comments: