What causes the “Panna” cream dial seen in the early 116520 Daytona?

[Frakis]

I have posted this same question on a different forum, but wanted to tap into the resources and knowledge we have here on TRF.

I have seen some early 116520 Daytona references (P, K, and Y serials) develop an incredible “Panna” cream dial. I personally love the look. Other examples have a hint of green, while other examples haven’t changed and are still white.

1. What causes the dial to naturally change? I have read that some believe this is caused by a defective batch of white paint, temperature or UV radiation exposure.

2. If the watch has been kept in a safe (white dial with no signs of “panna” cream), and not exposed to light or temperature changes will the dial naturally change to a “Panna” cream dial if it hasn’t in the first 15-20 years?

Some have told me:
- Possibly, who knows. Leave it on a window sill, and see what happens.
- If it hasn’t turned by now it won’t regardless if exposed to natural elements of wearing a wristwatch.

I tend to believe the “who knows” comment.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

This picture was taken from an ad on Chrono24.

[Bil3102]

Faulty organic paint and uv and moisture.
Mine is creamy to offwhite and the previous owner lived
In Maryland Usa and i in tropical Hk so hoping it goes creamy yellow like the explorer
With the high moisture and uv we get here.

[TopDog2315]

That’s a great question, I’m in the process of purchasing a DJ with the cream dial, and I was wondering what caused this...

Hopefully somebody on TRF will be able to provide some explanation.

Cheers


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[TswaneNguni]

Have a k serial, unworn, with stickers on .Dial is pure white .

[TurboWatch]

Originally Posted by Frakis

I have posted this same question on a different forum, but wanted to tap into the resources and knowledge we have here on TRF.

I have seen some early 116520 Daytona references (P, K, and Y serials) develop an incredible “Panna” cream dial. I personally love the look. Other examples have a hint of green, while other examples haven’t changed and are still white.

1. What causes the dial to naturally change? I have read that some believe this is caused by a defective batch of white paint, temperature or UV radiation exposure.

2. If the watch has been kept in a safe (white dial with no signs of “panna” cream), and not exposed to light or temperature changes will the dial naturally change to a “Panna” cream dial if it hasn’t in the first 15-20 years?

Some have told me:
- Possibly, who knows. Leave it on a window sill, and see what happens.
- If it hasn’t turned by now it won’t regardless if exposed to natural elements of wearing a wristwatch.

I tend to believe the “who knows” comment.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

This picture was taken from an ad on Chrono24.

I've posted this on TRF before:

The color white is made up of equal part of blue, red, and green. When exposed to the sun, for some reason, the blue color fades quicker than the other two color, that leaves the mixture to appear less white (cream). Much like what you see in tropical brown Rolex dial that was originally black. As you know, black color is made up of equal part of red, yellow, and blue. Again, when the watch is exposed to the sun for a long period of time, the blue color fades faster, and leaves red and yellow as the predominant colors...the result is brown as you see on these beautiful tropical brown Submariners, GMTs and Datejust...

By the way, not only my P serial Daytona , my M serial white has also turned cream (It was my daily for 6 months while I was in Middle East).

[cts]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Have a k serial, unworn, with stickers on .Dial is pure white .

Would love to see a picture!!!!

[Onequik135i]

Love seeing these Panna threads.

[Alex71168]

How does moisture affect it? Is it not a waterproof watch?

[JMTE]

Can anyone tell me if I lived in a tropical climate and wore my watch daily (2019 production), would the black dial fade to brown as the older models do?

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by JMTE

Can anyone tell me if I lived in a tropical climate and wore my watch daily (2019 production), would the black dial fade to brown as the older models do?

Yes, In about 45 years...

[Bil3102]

Update, my subdials are getting grey spots and the snailing is looking dark.

[padi56]

Its mainly UV light and a fault in the paint pigment,plus the fact of dealers sellers using this term to drive prices up to those gullible to pay,and expect many today are artificially aged because of this price hike.

[jimcameron]

Low bid paint.

[TopDog2315]

All I know is that the “Panna” dial is something special. Here’s a pic of my DJ : )




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[Hussain222]

Old thread , I have p serial , it’s turned half way cream , does anyone here think exposing it to sunlight for a complete week , by keeping next to window will bring this change a bit faster ? Will it turn out to be darker creamer ….

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by Hussain222

Old thread , I have p serial , it’s turned half way cream , does anyone here think exposing it to sunlight for a complete week , by keeping next to window will bring this change a bit faster ? Will it turn out to be darker creamer ….

Try and let us know

[watchluvr4ever]

Same paint used on those cream Explorer II’s?

[HL65]

Another paint defect with a cool outcome.

[EvelynWaugh]

I wonder if exposing my pearly white 116520 out in the sun for a year straight (or longer) would do anything to the dial.

[envuks]

Originally Posted by EvelynWaugh

I wonder if exposing my pearly white 116520 out in the sun for a year straight (or longer) would do anything to the dial.

Maybe bake it under a UV lightbulb?

Again, “who knows”


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[MRBolton]

So Rolex dial colors are still going to age similarly to the vintage pieces for the current pieces? My 116500LN white dial will go "Panna" one day? My current Pepsi will go brown?

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by MRBolton

So Rolex dial colors are still going to age similarly to the vintage pieces for the current pieces? My 116500LN white dial will go "Panna" one day? My current Pepsi will go brown?

Time will tell but mostly likely not

[MRBolton]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

Time will tell but mostly likely not

Why not? I know on the markers they're white gold now to prevent tarnishing, but what's different about the dials?

[mquarter]

How plausible is it that panna-dial 116520 in NOS condition exists? As in, it's unworn and stickered but the dial has already panna'd?

I saw a few of those in C24 for VERY steep prices, was wondering how plausible it is. Considering the stickers on some of those examples are actually in decent condition - I saw one which had the caseback stickers (both the green and clear stickers) which looked perfect.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by TopDog2315

That’s a great question, I’m in the process of purchasing a DJ with the cream dial, and I was wondering what caused this...

Hopefully somebody on TRF will be able to provide some explanation.

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A fault in the paint pigment much like the the blue dial 16613 subs that turned purple back in the late1980s early 1990s.

[DJ2020]

Paint used on the dial is not the same quality as used now.

[ns1125]

Hi guys! I have a Panna serial (K 2001), but it is almost white and can barely tell its cream/off-white. Have you noticed if yours still change overtime to be more cream? Anyone know if mine will stay white or turn cream and how to change that (make it more cream)? Thanks

[ns1125]

hi, wondering if you tried this out and have any updates.

I have a Panna serial (K 2001), but it is almost white and can barely tell its cream/off-white. Have you noticed if yours still change overtime to be more cream? Anyone know if mine will stay white or turn cream and how to change that? Thanks

[Solo118]

Originally Posted by ns1125

hi, wondering if you tried this out and have any updates.

I have a Panna serial (K 2001), but it is almost white and can barely tell its cream/off-white. Have you noticed if yours still change overtime to be more cream? Anyone know if mine will stay white or turn cream and how to change that? Thanks

If it did not change by now, you may have a "good" one. They eventually changed the paint they used, I just do not recall which serial

[1665fan]

I would say UV and moisture exposure has a lot to do with it