Watch reference library
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN
Produced 2016 to 2023. Discontinued.
Specifications
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case material
- Oystersteel
- Bezel
- Fixed, black monobloc Cerachrom insert with tachymeter scale
- Dial
- Black, White (nicknamed Panda for its black subdials)
- Movement
- Rolex calibre 4130, automatic
- Power reserve
- About 72 hours (about 66 hours if the chronograph runs continuously)
- Water resistance
- 100 meters
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bracelet
- Oyster bracelet
The story
The 116500LN, introduced in 2016, was the first Oystersteel Daytona fitted with a ceramic bezel, a monobloc Cerachrom insert with the tachymeter scale engraved directly into it rather than printed or engraved on steel. It replaced the 116520, which had run from 2000 to 2016 with the same 40mm case and the same calibre 4130 that Rolex introduced with that reference, so the headline change was really the bezel material rather than a wholesale redesign. That single swap, from an engraved steel bezel to scratch-resistant, fade-proof ceramic, was enough to make the 116500LN one of the most in-demand Rolex sports models of its era, sold in black-dial and white "Panda" dial versions with black subdials. Rolex kept the 116500LN in the catalog for seven years before retiring it at Watches & Wonders in 2023, succeeded by the 126500LN, which carries the newer calibre 4131, adds a sapphire exhibition caseback the 116500LN never had, and revises the subdial layout on both dial colors.
What to check before you buy
The 116500LN has been out of production since 2023, so every example changing hands now is a secondary-market watch rather than something you can special-order at retail. Confirm which dial you're looking at, black or white Panda, since they're visually distinct but share the same case, bezel, and movement. There's no exhibition caseback on this generation, the back is solid and engraved, so you can't check the movement through glass the way you can on the newer 126500LN. Watches from the earlier end of the production run, 2016 and 2017, are now old enough that Rolex's roughly 10-year service guidance is starting to apply, so it's worth asking directly when a piece was last serviced rather than assuming it's untouched. As with other current-era Rolex references, the serial is a random code on the rehaut and won't tell you a precise production date on its own.
Buying or selling a 116500LN?
Moda is always buying. Text photos to (605) 521-2821 for a fast offer, or start on the Moda Watches page. Looking for one instead? Post it on the want list and the community and Moda's dealers will hunt for it. For any deal with a stranger, Moda's middleman service inspects the watch before money changes hands. For live market pricing on this reference, Moda-lytics tracks real Rolex sales data.
Common questions
What's the difference between the black dial and the white "Panda" dial?
Same reference, case, and bezel, the dial color is the only difference. The white dial pairs a lacquered white face with black subdial rings, nicknamed Panda, while the black dial keeps the whole face black.
How is this different from the current steel Daytona?
The 116500LN was replaced by the 126500LN in 2023. Both share a 40mm case, black ceramic bezel, and Oyster bracelet, but the newer watch uses the updated calibre 4131, adds a sapphire exhibition caseback, and revises the subdial layout.
What did the 116500LN replace, and what actually changed?
It replaced the 116520 (2000 to 2016). Both share the calibre 4130 and 40mm case; the real change was swapping the 116520's engraved steel tachymeter bezel for a scratch-resistant, fade-proof black Cerachrom ceramic bezel, the first time Rolex put ceramic on a steel Daytona.
Can you see the movement through the case back?
No. The 116500LN has a solid, engraved steel caseback with no display window. Rolex didn't add a sapphire exhibition back to the Daytona line until the 126500LN generation arrived in 2023.