Short on time? Rolex launched the 116500LN in 2016. It was the first steel Daytona with a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel, and it ran until 2023, when the 126500LN replaced it. 40mm Oystersteel, calibre 4130 automatic chronograph, about 72 hours of power reserve. Ours has the black dial and is a 2019 full set.
Backstory
The Daytona has been around since 1963, but the modern story really starts in 2000. That year Rolex fitted its own calibre 4130 to the steel Daytona, the 116520, and stopped relying on outside movements.
For sixteen years the steel Daytona had a steel bezel. Then at Baselworld 2016, Rolex swapped it for black Cerachrom, the scratch-resistant ceramic it already used on its precious-metal Daytonas. The black bezel was a nod to vintage Daytonas with black bezel inserts, and the reaction was immediate. For years the 116500LN was one of the hardest Rolexes to buy at retail.
Key Details
The case is 40mm Oystersteel with screw-down pushers and 100 metres of water resistance. The bezel is black Cerachrom with an engraved tachymeter scale, and that black ring is the whole look. It's available with a white dial (the "panda") or black, like ours. The black dial is the more understated of the two.
When Rolex replaced it with the 126500LN in 2023, the changes were small: slimmer lugs, slightly altered dial printing, and the new calibre 4131. If you're not looking closely, you'd struggle to tell them apart.
The Movement
Calibre 4130 is a column-wheel chronograph with a vertical clutch, so the seconds hand doesn't jump when you start it. Rolex designed it with fewer parts than a conventional chronograph, which makes it robust and easier to service. It has a blue Parachrom hairspring and about 72 hours of power reserve.
On the Wrist
At 40mm and about 12mm thick, the Daytona wears smaller than its reputation. It sits well on most wrists, and the Oyster bracelet with its Easylink extension is comfortable all day. The ceramic bezel makes it feel more modern than the 116520 and a bit sportier.
Final Thoughts
The 116500LN is the modern steel Daytona. The 126500LN is the newer version, but the 116500LN is where the ceramic bezel started, and for a lot of collectors that's the one that matters.
Ours is a 2019 116500LN with a black dial, full set, in excellent condition.
