2016 Daytona for keeps - 116520 or 116500?

[jimcameron]

Originally Posted by KermitGang

All else being equal, ceramic makes a superior scratch-resistant bezel.

.....that is overpriced and when it is hit just the right way, it shatters instead of a scratch. Marketing myth.

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

.....that is overpriced and when it is hit just the right way, it shatters instead of a scratch. Marketing myth.

Couldn't agree more. Its lemmings with that 116500. Paying double the price because somehow Rolex has convinced folks that adding crockery to the watch (40 year old technology by the way) is a major upgrade that must be had, because of course it is special Rolex crockery and not the stuff used on your dinner plate. lol.

[subdateII]

Originally Posted by greentimgreen

Values are irrelevant and I like the aesthetics of the black 116520 and the white 116500 equally, so finding it a difficult choice to make!

Both great choices. Those are my favorite color/model combinations... I recently acquired a 116520 black and I am delighted with it. Did you try them both?

[greentimgreen]

Originally Posted by subdateII

Both great choices. Those are my favorite color/model combinations... I recently acquired a 116520 black and I am delighted with it. Did you try them both?

I have done, yes. The black 116520 wears smaller, and dressier, and that’s not really a bad thing. I’m in an office job and can wear either fairly easily on a daily basis, if I wanted to. That said, working in London does make you feel slightly paranoid about wearing “hot” models like the panda, which could be a factor.


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[psv]

Marking an occasion 3 years after it happened? Seems like a stretch.

The only correct answer is to buy the one you actually like the most, and then buy the best possible condition you can find (if not brand new). If the watch was sold in 2016 or 2017 seems to matter less, especially 3 years afterwards.

[greentimgreen]

Originally Posted by psv

Marking an occasion 3 years after it happened? Seems like a stretch.

The only correct answer is to buy the one you actually like the most, and then buy the best possible condition you can find (if not brand new). If the watch was sold in 2016 or 2017 seems to matter less, especially 3 years afterwards.

Maybe I’m being overly vague. It’s a birth year watch for my son, born in 2016. I wasn’t in a financial position to buy a watch for keeps at the time!


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[subdateII]

Originally Posted by greentimgreen

I have done, yes. The black 116520 wears smaller, and dressier, and that’s not really a bad thing. I’m in an office job and can wear either fairly easily on a daily basis, if I wanted to. That said, working in London does make you feel slightly paranoid about wearing “hot” models like the panda, which could be a factor.

What you say is why I opted for the black 116520. No right or wrong here. Get what you like and let us know what you got...

[georgekart]

Originally Posted by greentimgreen

I’m looking to buy a special watch to mark an occasion in 2016 (too late I know). Question is, if i want a SS Daytona, would it be best to pick up the last year of 116520 production, or the first year of 116500 production (both 2016)?

Asked a different way - Is there an analogy with cars, where buying first year of production is usually a bad idea in quality terms, and last year all the issues are ironed out?

Values are irrelevant and I like the aesthetics of the black 116520 and the white 116500 equally, so finding it a difficult choice to make!


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It's similar to cars, but here movement matters more, same as in modern cars, engines and electronics matter more than the chassis itself. For example, car manufacturers switch engines and gearboxes mid chassis production sometimes as well as electronics components. If we take the example of BMW, I wouldn't take the late E90 335i when they just came out as they had a new N55 engine. Nobody knew if it was reliable. I wouldn't have particular issues early 335i F30s though as it used an engine and gearbox already tested in other cars made by the manufacturer prior to that, as well many electronic components. Same with the Daytona, I wouldn't get the first year DD40 as it came with new movement that had issues, or a first year SS BLRO, but a first year BLNR on Jubilee is non issue as it combined movement used for a year in BLRO and bezel used for years in Oyster BLNR. Same with Daytona. AFAIK, they only changed the bezel, everything else is the same, so I would get a ceramic just cause I like aesthetics more.

[2nastie]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

.....that is overpriced and when it is hit just the right way, it shatters instead of a scratch. Marketing myth.

Originally Posted by Chester01

Couldn't agree more. Its lemmings with that 116500. Paying double the price because somehow Rolex has convinced folks that adding crockery to the watch (40 year old technology by the way) is a major upgrade that must be had, because of course it is special Rolex crockery and not the stuff used on your dinner plate. lol.

If you put it that way then people should pick up the TT version which sells for below or at MSRP. Clearly it's a Daytona and even has more gold.

The reason why something commands a certain price is not just material costs or change. The 116500 viewed by the masses is a more aesthetically pleasing watch compared to 116520. Thus the price difference. If SS bezel looked better on the watch, I'm certain the 116520 would command more.

...

For the OP and others considering, it's up to which aesthetic options they like more: SS bezel or Ceramic bezel. For the white dial: silver sub-dials or black sub-dials. If you like 116500 more then we'll they would have to fork over more. The mechanics and other elements of the watch is the same.

Rolex values and preferences has always been about the minute differences. No matter how small the change is, even something so "insignificant" can blow prices out the of the water let alone a bezel or dial change.

[subdateII]

Originally Posted by 2nastie

The reason why something commands a certain price is not just material costs or change. The 116500 viewed by the masses is a more aesthetically pleasing watch compared to 116520. Thus the price difference. If SS bezel looked better on the watch, I'm certain the 116520 would command more.
.

I’m not so sure about that. There is also the new vs used factor. If you look carefully at recent data. The 116520 has caught out quite a bit :
1. NOS 116520 are trading at same level as new 116500
2. 2016 preowned & worn 116520 are trading 10% under 116500 of same year

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by subdateII

I’m not so sure about that. There is also the new vs used factor. If you look carefully at recent data. The 116520 has caught out quite a bit :
1. NOS 116520 are trading at same level as new 116500
2. 2016 preowned & worn 116520 are trading 10% under 116500 of same year

Cream 116520 have already surpassed the ceramics.....

[BillA]

I love these post......”what should I buy”
How about buy what you want?
Sure, a couple hundred strangers can help who don’t know you.

[subdateII]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Cream 116520 have already surpassed the ceramics.....

That would be the white? How about the black MK 1 with thin hands and brown sub-dials?

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by subdateII

That would be the white? How about the black MK 1 with thin hands and brown sub-dials?

Black mark1 dial and thin hands is just another 116520....the thin hand white dials P serial and a few others change to a cream color similar to the 16550....they are highly sought after

[Luther89]

Pre ceramic is a lot cheaper so go for that

[nikesupremedunk]

Hard choice. 2016 520 is somewhat special since it’s the last year made but 2016 500 isn’t anything special. But the 500 looks better. Like others said you should really get the one you prefer.

[2nastie]

Originally Posted by nikesupremedunk

Hard choice. 2016 520 is somewhat special since it’s the last year made but 2016 500 isn’t anything special. But the 500 looks better. Like others said you should really get the one you prefer.

Or 2016 is the first year they made the ceramic ss version? First year, last year, 1 year made, 1 special letter change, limited edition, numbered edition... everything can be made special.

Individuals just need to buy whatever watch appeals to them. Find the fairest deal and go for it.

[2nastie]

Originally Posted by subdateII

I’m not so sure about that. There is also the new vs used factor. If you look carefully at recent data. The 116520 has caught out quite a bit :
1. NOS 116520 are trading at same level as new 116500
2. 2016 preowned & worn 116520 are trading 10% under 116500 of same year

There can be millions of determining factors. What the OP is deciding on is essentially aesthetics as the watch has no mechanical change. The likely scenario for the OP is a used 116520 or used/bnib 116500. And based on that he will have to pay more for 116500 as the general market is currently desiring the 116500 more.

^the NOS watch trades at the same level only if you keep in a box. As soon as it hits the wrist, the value is your option #2... which would again suggest 116500 is more popular than the 116520 on the same year.

[lamnyc]

Black dial 116500, white dial 116520. That will be my choice. Both are great.

[subdateII]

Originally Posted by 2nastie

There can be millions of determining factors. What the OP is deciding on is essentially aesthetics as the watch has no mechanical change. The likely scenario for the OP is a used 116520 or used/bnib 116500. And based on that he will have to pay more for 116500 as the general market is currently desiring the 116500 more.

^the NOS watch trades at the same level only if you keep in a box. As soon as it hits the wrist, the value is your option #2... which would again suggest 116500 is more popular than the 116520 on the same year.

It could also be that the supply of 116520 is higher since we are talking about a 16 year run vs a less than 4 year production run for the 116500. Bottom line, I'm not so sure that the 116500 is more desired than the 116520. Time will tell.

[Ghost410]

Ceramic. Always ceramic