116500 Black Legibility

[Seaswirl]

All,

Looks like a good number of the black dial Daytonas have come in, and the photos look great. Can any owners opine on the legibility of both the subdials as well as the minute and hour hands against e black dial? I owned a black 116520, but traded it for a white dial as I struggled to read the time at a glance. My AD told me that I'm unlikely to get a white 116500 until late 2017, but I can get a black dial fairly quickly. The black dial has been growing on me with all of these fantastic photos and it would allow me to justify keeping the white 116520. All comes down to legibility though.

[kromdom]

any chance you can also personally try one in an AD near you?

[jbenjamin1]

I just got the black dial 116500LN (wanted the white because of legibility) and I must say it is quite legible once you get used to it.

In terms of legibility I think of Richard Mille watches; they cost obscene money and many of them are hard to tell actual time on (IMO because of the busy dial)!

[chas13]

Originally Posted by jbenjamin1

I just got the black dial 116500LN (wanted the white because of legibility) and I must say it is quite legible once you get used to it.

In terms of legibility I think of Richard Mille watches; they cost obscene money and many of them are hard to tell actual time on (IMO because of the busy dial)!

I had the same dilemma. I've only had it a couple of days, but so far it views clearer than I thought.

[HL65]

Very legible IMHO and on my wrist now.

[Seaswirl]

Thanks fellas. Very much appreciated. Love them both so it's going to be a tough but sweet decision.

[Tique DDS]

Just curious as to what number you are on the waitlist for a late 2017 arrival of a white dial for you? Does your AD have 2 diff lists? (A list for each dial)


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[Seaswirl]

Originally Posted by Tique DDS

Just curious as to what number you are on the waitlist for a late 2017 arrival of a white dial for you? Does your AD have 2 diff lists? (A list for each dial)


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I was told the list has 40 people, the majority of which have asked for the white dial. They expect to get the same number of 116500s as they did with the 116520s which was 24 per year, 12 white and 12 black. I'm guessing I'm in the middle of the list. Of note, the AD noted that it all comes down to sales history.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by HL65

Very legible IMHO and on my wrist now.

Ken I saw a pic on the other thread, did you go for the black dial?

[Rogdogg]

Originally Posted by HL65

Very legible IMHO and on my wrist now.

Congrats Ken. I think I remember you saying recently that you had booked the white dial. Did you get to choose between the two and change your mind to the black dial or like many others, was it the only one that arrived?

[RHIII]

The black dial is extremely legible (IMO) Both the time as well as sub dials.

Wearing it now as well!!

I could have had either dial -- no wrong choice in my opinion -- but there was just something super sleek to me about the black dial.

If at all possible - I would try to put eyes on both of them first and then choose...you may be surprised!!

Cheers!

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[Daytona2016]

I own a black 116520 and the new 116500, also in black, and I can say that the new Daytona is much more legible. The dial is glossier and appears darker - and the hour indices and hands "pop" much more than before. The subdials are also much more legible. To me, it's night and day from the 116520.

FWIW, I originally wanted a white dial but the black came in and I jumped all over it. Now I'm ecstatic with the decision. I'm also getting the sense that the black dials may be more in demand down the road with so many people buying white dials.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by AK797

Ken I saw a pic on the other thread, did you go for the black dial?

Originally Posted by Rogdogg

Congrats Ken. I think I remember you saying recently that you had booked the white dial. Did you get to choose between the two and change your mind to the black dial or like many others, was it the only one that arrived?

Thanks and yes changed mind and went black. Had option of both but got sucked in by the black. I blame all the pics here that sucked me in!

[Rogdogg]

Originally Posted by HL65

Thanks and yes changed mind and went black. Had option of both but got sucked in by the black. I blame all the pics here that sucked me in!

Cheers! That's very interesting to know. The black is growing on me all the time but I'm leaning more towards the white as I think it appears to wear bigger, at least it looks that way in photos. Enjoy the new watch.

[Brian Page]

Originally Posted by HL65

Thanks and yes changed mind and went black. Had option of both but got sucked in by the black. I blame all the pics here that sucked me in!

[jschmidtdmd]

I really like the black as well after seeing all the photos!

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Rogdogg

Cheers! That's very interesting to know. The black is growing on me all the time but I'm leaning more towards the white as I think it appears to wear bigger, at least it looks that way in photos. Enjoy the new watch.

Originally Posted by Brian Page

Thanks!!

[Oyster Al]

Originally Posted by HL65

Thanks and yes changed mind and went black. Had option of both but got sucked in by the black. I blame all the pics here that sucked me in!

There is a picture floating around with Jackie Stewart holding his race helmet with the black dial daytona c. I think that picture is going to sell alot of watches.

[SC11]

Originally Posted by HL65

Thanks and yes changed mind and went black. Had option of both but got sucked in by the black. I blame all the pics here that sucked me in!

Did you have both infront of you or was your decision swayed by pics?

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by Seaswirl

All,

I owned a black 116520, but traded it for a white dial as I struggled to read the time at a glance.

You do realize we are talking the exact same watch here-only with the addition of a ceramic bezel-which will have no effect on legibility.

[SC11]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

You do realize we are talking the exact same watch here-only with the addition of a ceramic bezel-which will have no effect on legibility.

Sub dial rings are more a satin/matte silver rather then the gloss of the 116520 so this will help the sub dial reading as for the time I'm not aware of any other changes to help this but from pics the 116500 does look easier to read then the 116520, less glare maybe?!

[Tique DDS]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

You do realize we are talking the exact same watch here-only with the addition of a ceramic bezel-which will have no effect on legibility.

The subdials have been changed. With a specific reason of improving legibility


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[RHIII]

Originally Posted by Tique DDS

The subdials have been changed. With a specific reason of improving legibility


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Agreed -- side by side there is a pretty significant difference in legibility. IMO


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[tigerpac]

Aren't the sub-registers the same on the black dial? If so, should be just as hard or harder to read with the darker bezel no?

edit - Whoops just read above - I didn't see a difference in pictures but guess it is in real life

[Oyster Al]

Originally Posted by Oyster Al

There is a picture floating around with Jackie Stewart holding his race helmet with the black dial daytona c. I think that picture is going to sell alot of watches.

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0w435Nhu...ex-Daytona.jpg

[AK797]

Originally Posted by HL65

Thanks and yes changed mind and went black. Had option of both but got sucked in by the black. I blame all the pics here that sucked me in!

Congrats Ken, I would have gone black too, but was hoping you and Ben and the other great pic takers here would go for white so I'm left free to get my other chrono first.

[Brian Page]

Originally Posted by Seaswirl

All,

Looks like a good number of the black dial Daytonas have come in, and the photos look great. Can any owners opine on the legibility of both the subdials as well as the minute and hour hands against e black dial? I owned a black 116520, but traded it for a white dial as I struggled to read the time at a glance. My AD told me that I'm unlikely to get a white 116500 until late 2017, but I can get a black dial fairly quickly. The black dial has been growing on me with all of these fantastic photos and it would allow me to justify keeping the white 116520. All comes down to legibility though.

I've had a 116520 in both white and black, no question the 116500 is far more legible , My favorite now - not wearing anything else ( mines black by the way)

[GMT13]

"Supposedly" the black dial has been tweaked too, not exact same as 116520.

I have seen both (white and black, side by side) in person, and both have a "wet" look, IMO:

Black is more sexy, more sporty, more depth to the black

White is more formal, more dressy (and by dressy, it wears better with a white collared shirt but I personally think white dials in general are more dressy than black, especially on steel bracelets).

Re:legibility, White more legible than black (because the hands pop more and my eyes see silver on glossy white better than silver on glossy black)...but both increased legibility vs 116520

[4srolex]

Tried this on a couple of days ago and I was impressed with legibility of subdials. You can compare it to the SS that made me feel like I was 90 years old. I'm going with the White dial Daytona C when my number is called.

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by SC11

Sub dial rings are more a satin/matte silver rather then the gloss of the 116520 so this will help the sub dial reading as for the time I'm not aware of any other changes to help this but from pics the 116500 does look easier to read then the 116520, less glare maybe?!

Originally Posted by Tique DDS

The subdials have been changed. With a specific reason of improving legibility

Yeah...sorry, I stand by my comment. There very well may have been some tweaking...but the OP stated his concern for legibility with the older model. To my eyes, it would at the very least be worth his time checking to see if those concerns have been addressed to his satisfaction. Having owned the black 116520, I know I would have to see it for myself before I would plunk down the cash. But that's me.

WG non-lumed hands against anything that is dark is going to be a legibility issue, IMO.