16520 black vs 116500 panda

[choistorysam]

which would you choose/why?

I read zenith are more desirable and is considered an enthusiast watch. Why is that?

Thanks for posting.

[Roger Lococco]

116500. I like the aesthetics, including the ceramic bezel.


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[sampelligrino]

116500 panda

The 6 digit references feel way more robust and solid to me and I'll take it over the "vintageness" feel of the 5 digit refs, YMMV

[majidessa]

6 digits Daytonas such as 116 & 126 use 904 steel, modern movement with anti magnetic properties and higher accureacy, better clasps with easy link, crystals with anti reflection coating, stronger lume and thicker hands for better elgability in addition to ceramic bezels.

The 5 digit Daytona is now a vintage peice with zenith movements, hence it appeals to certain collectors.

[SLWoodster]

Prefer 116500. I think black bezel has been preferred for a little while. But I think it will trend back to steel bezel preference at some point.

16520 also the first 40mm Daytona. And the next after the four digit ones. So yeah, vintage. Also Paul Newman had a white stainless and a white gold one.

[Joearch]

All are great

[travisb]

I almost always go modern but this is the perfect Daytona for me.



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[brandrea]

The dial is more balanced on the zenith

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by travisb

I almost always go modern but this is the perfect Daytona for me.



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BINGO

[Deppe]

I will probably be in the minority but I prefer the 16520 - especially with tritium dial and hands.

The 16520 was the Daytona that started all the hype around the Daytona and it was the first automatic Daytona. It has the same case as the 116500, but with a steel bezel that is reminiscent of (some of) the four digit Daytonas, especially if you can find one with a 200 uph bezel.

On the black 16520, the subdials are more cream than silver - from the six digits and up, the subdials are more silver. Also, the lugs are brushed on the 16520 and last but not least, the subdials are centered on the 3/9 axis, where they are slightly above that on the 116500.

I am indifferent with regards to the bracelet - yes, the 5 digit bracelets feels flimsier, but for me they tend to wear more comfortable.

I really like the 116500 as well, but find that the 16520 has more charm.

EDIT: Also, as the 16520 was dependent on Zenith to deliver movements, the output was actually limited to what Zenith could deliver. The scarcity of these at the time was therefore real.

[choistorysam]

Is there a reason you chose 5 digit ref. here? yours looks good!

[hutch300]

Have you considered a 116500 black?

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Zenith. All day. Every day.

I prefer the svelte-ness of the 5 digit case, as well as the overall case profile and bracelet ergonomics. I’m not a fan of polished lugs either.

The Black dial 16520 gives a nice mid-ground between lacquered gloss and matte finishing.

The only Panda I’m interested in is the 6263 Newman. Otherwise the 116500 panda is just a “hype” watch in my opinion. The zenith, on the other hand, signals to the watch world that you’re a proper enthusiast, and is bound to draw up conversation.

But this is all just semantics. Buy what you love. In Daytona land, that happens to be the 5 digit zeniths and 4 digit plexis of the old world for me personally :)

[choistorysam]

I don’t like the 11 series black Daytona. Two times I saw a panda 116500 in the wild the owners came off pretentious in conversation. Didn’t really connect on our enthusiasm for watches.

[choistorysam]

Perhaps the modern ceramic panda makes the owner seem like a hype beast too

[pigman08]

Black dial: 6 digits
White dial: 5 digits

This obviously doesn’t answer your question, but the black bezel and sub-dial rings make the white 500 series look a little too busy for me… The black bezel/black dial combo just seem to meld together very nicely like a Sub or a black bezeled GMT.


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[Bazil]

116500, everyday of the week, ceramic bezel is a winner, but trust me I’d have a 116520 too, so what ever you choose I can’t see you being disappointed ….

[ArtNouveau]

My first SS Daytona was one of the last white dial 16520’s in 2000. Less than a year later the new inhouse movement 116520 came out and I traded for a white dial version of that.
Had I kept that 16520 it would be worth many times what I paid for it but I have zero regrets. The Zenith movement doesn’t hack if that matters to you and the 4130 movement has proven to be very accurate and reliable. Aesthetics are mostly how I pick and choose my watches and I prefer the look of my black 116500.

[911cz]

Quite the difference between the two but at this point I’d lean towards the Zenith. Love the dial details on the 16520.


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[Mr. Superlative]

116500. It’s perfect.

[tommm]

For me, the Zenith is a million miles better than the ceramic Daytona.

It’s the little things, the balanced dial, centred subdials, the symmetric lugs, but the biggest, by far, is that it’s a brushed case and not polished. It makes such a huge difference, and if you get an early one, with the UNITS PER HOUR at 3 o clock and a full brushed bracelet aswell, you’re looking at one of the finest Daytonas ever made.

The ceramic with the super case is just a hype watch that’s a homage to the early Daytonas. It won’t stand the test of time like the Zenith does.

So for me it’s not even in the same league

[Bazil]

Who wouldn’t want this though … I know it’s not black but is a beauty …

[thrift]

Panda is just too iconic. Personally my Daytona dream duo is the 116500 Panda and the 116520 Black Dial.

[thrift]

Panda is just too iconic. Personally my Daytona dream duo is the 116500 Panda and the 116520 Black Dial

[GMTmatt]

16520 because the case is brushed

[dmb359]

116500
Looks better to me

[spellmanski]

I have been debating this same thing for the past 6 months, as a used Daytona is on my horizon at some point. I eventually landed on wanting the 16520 because of those creamy sub dials on the black dial just look so awesome.

[Recaro18]

Both Black & White…16520 all day!




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[pigman08]

Originally Posted by Bazil

Who wouldn’t want this though … I know it’s not black but is a beauty …

I couldn’t agree more… I’d probably have a hard time reading it, but I could easily gaze at it all day long.


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[MannyMann]

116500 will be a perfect choice.