New Daytona 126500 Appreciation Post and Comparison vs 116500

[USMC034L]

Originally Posted by 928ktgold

I’ve had both of each 116500ln and 126. I was not feeling the bezel ring before and the thin subdial rings on the white initially as it looked anemic on the 126500 white. I did like the thinner silver rings initially on the new 126 as I thought they were too pale and big on the 116500 black. I also really appreciate the small case size on the 116 and its asymmetrical right lugs to balance out the visual “weight” of the crowns.

With the white 116500 we’re all used to seeing thick subdial rings and the bold sold bezel. It’s what attracted us to that model initially. It created a lot of hype for the watch and I was along for the ride.

After new releases arrived in dealers I visited one of our trusted greys here and saw the black first. Very shiny and didn’t not wear substantially bigger than the prior reference.

Then the curiosity bug hit me. Let me see the new white dial

As soon as I saw it I did feel it be the evolved iteration of the Daytona. The bezel ring integrates the bezel to the watch for me. I always thought the full ceramic bezel felt like and afterthought in its design. In actually it is. It basically replace the steel bezel in the 116500 and Rolex called it a day.

Comparing my 116500 white and the new 126500 white the new thin rings and hour markers convinced me to trade in. I love the classic zenith look. To me the 116500 that we all used to putting on a pedestal faded. I did have that watch for about 4 years so I guess had already been there a done that.

The bolder contrast of the 116500ln didn’t sing to me anymore. I now liked the classic bezel ring. Thinner black bezel and subdial rings on the white 126.

For anyone who hasn’t they still have the dream of the 116500 and that’s fine. I’m past that. So I trade in to the 126500LN white and couldn’t be happier.



With the black 116500 the solid bezel blends in with the black dial well. It didn’t contrast as wildly as the white 116. After having the 126500 white for 2 months though I got the itch and traded that one too for the new reference. The black ones were always my dad’s watch.

We still have a 116500LN white for my mom and wouldn’t trade that one as the smaller case fits her better and would still like to keep that reference in the family.

Lastly I have 116519LN silver panda. I’d trade it for the new version probably but the changes aren’t as obvious to me to have to pay close to $10k to make that trade. For the steel versions though the money difference was worth it!

Thanks! That actually clarifies a lot for me along with the excellent photos. I'm just in the position to get either the black or white from my AD within the next year, and I currently gravitate to the white dial after having been able to try on both---but I couldn't help but feel like I might be missing something given the overwhelming love for the new black dial. Thank you kindly again for the detail!