Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520 With Fake ‘Beyer’ Print – Vintage Panerai and other iconic timepieces under the loupe at Perezcope

On November 27, 2018, Phillips Hong Kong auctioned an uncommon Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520 from 1991 (N-series) with uncommon ‘Beyer’ double signed dial. According to the public sale home some eight items are recognized to exist. Beyer, the oldest clock and watch store in Switzerland, had a particular relationship with Rolex, Patek Philippe and lots of different manufacturers. Located in my house city Zurich on the world well-known Bahnhofstrasse, Beyer was the pure alternative after I purchased my first costly watch again in late 1999, a Breitling Navitimer Fighters (A13330). In early 2021, I began having doubts about Zenith Daytonas with ‘Beyer’ dials and so I reached out to the oldsters at Beyer to ask whether or not these double signed dials have been actual. Beyer’s reply was unequivocal...
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Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520, N470188, retailed by Beyer

The N-series of Ref. 16520 was the fifths sequence after R, L, E and X. The watch itself is nothing out of the abnormal, apart from the dial. Regular items go for round USD 30k. With the double signed ‘Beyer’ dial, nonetheless, the watch in query fetched round USD 100k, greater than tripple the value of a daily N-series.

Auction hyperlink: Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520, retailed by Beyer (Phillips)

Interstingly, the identical watch was bought in May 2021 at Phillips Perpetual, Phillips’ watch boutique in London.

Direct hyperlink: Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520, retailed by Beyer (Phillips Perpetual)

The ‘Beyer’ signature is just like those discovered on double signed Patek Philippe watches (e.g. Ref. 3450) retailed by Beyer within the 1970/80s however has extra pronounced serifs.

In early 2021, after watching an outdated Hodinkee ‘Talking Watches’ episode with Beyer boss René Beyer, I began having doubts about “newer” Rolex watches that includes ‘Beyer’ dials. None of the publish Nineteen Fifties Rolex watches Mr. Beyer inherited from his father and grandfather have been double signed, not even a private reward from Hans Wilsdorf to grandfather Theodor to commemorate 25 years of shut relationship. In distinction, particular items made by Patek Philippe for Beyer all the time had the ‘Beyer’ signature. Instead of breaking my head and begin gathering knowledge, I merely reached out to Beyer Chronometrie AG by way of electronic mail and requested if a Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520 with case quantity N470188 had been bought of their store and whether or not the dial that includes the ‘Beyer’ signature was appropriate or not. The head of Beyer’s classic division answered swiftly:

“Ich kann bestätigen, dass wir eine Rolex Daytona in Edelstahl mit der Referenz und der Seriennummer verkauft haben, aber ganz sicher nicht mit unserer Signatur auf dem Zifferblatt. Die ist woanders mal «ergänzt» worden.”

Translation: I can verify that we bought a chrome steel Rolex Daytona with the reference and serial quantity, however actually not with our signature on the dial. It has been “added” elsewhere.

Download: Screenshot electronic mail (JPG)

There isn’t any ambiguity in Beyer’s reply. This is an open-and-shut case. You see a ‘Beyer’ signature on a publish Nineteen Fifties Rolex, you’re nearly actually taking a look at simply one other Italian “masterpiece”. ‘Beyer’ signatures dispappeared from Rolex dials by the Nineteen Fifties on the newest (extra possible by the Nineteen Forties).

Thoughts

Beyer remains to be in enterprise right this moment. It is meaningless why Phillips didn’t attain out to Beyer to ensure the ‘Beyer’ Daytona was legit. It would have been a pure step within the strategy of vetting the watch. Sure, the watch got here with Beyer stamped papers however a lot of Rolex watches do and in 99.99% of the instances, there is no such thing as a ‘Beyer’ signature. The existence of a ‘Beyer’ print ought to have been a purpose to research additional. Anyway, I bear in mind wanting on the watch in 2018 and there was no purpose for me to be suspicious. After all, it was provided by the good Aurel Bacs and sanctioned by his advisory board consisting of high students like John Goldberger et all. How inexperienced I used to be again then.

Thank you on your curiosity.