Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN Luxury Watch Review

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Reference Number: 116500LN or 116500 LN

Note: As an Authorized Dealer this is not available for purchase new online, unless there is a pre-owned version available. Stop in to our Philadelphia location for purchasing or give us a call if you have questions!

By very popular demand, today we're discussing the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, reference 116500LN. The Lunette Noir, the first of the ceramic bezel, stainless steel Rolex Daytonas. Subscribe to our YouTube channel if you enjoy these videos.

Now, released at Baselworld 2016, this was quite literally the one Rolex enthusiasts had been waiting for. First seen in 2011, the ceramic bezel Rolex Daytona had been reserved entirely for the precious metal variants, variously gold and platinum. However, for 2016, it migrated to the bedrock of the Daytona class, the stainless steel variant. Now, there are two different versions. One with a silver dial, and one with a black dial. It's the example with the black dial that may be the most striking, simply because of the way it seems to magnify the size and the wrist presence of this timepiece.

On my wrist, 6 1/3", 16cm in circumference, you can see that the appearance of increased size is very much an illusion. Same sized case, 40mm across the round of the case, not including pushers, crown guards, or crown. It's only 12mm thick. You can see that the ceramic bezel, much like the metal equivalent before it, is nicely sloped with a conical profile that allows the watch to easily fit underneath a dress cuff. From lug to lug, it's more compact than you would expect, approximately 47mm from lug to lug; it's 51 from solid end link to solid end link across the bracelet. The watch wears with the same mass you would recognize from the original in full stainless steel. Although ceramic is a bit lighter, there isn't enough of it on this watch to make a difference in the wrist impression unless you're talking about the visual impression on the wrist, in which case, the watch has a ton of punch.

The bracelet's beautifully made, as ever. It's the three-link Rolex Oyster in this case. You can see that it's polished on the absolute flanks. Satin finish on its outer edges, and the center links all of polish. Every link is solid, center links, as well as end links. It still terminates in a beautifully finished Rolex, milled-out, Oyster clasp. As ever in the modern era, you get the 5mm easy link adjustment. You can rapidly take in or take out 5mm of length, as activity of heat or cold dictate.

It also features a very robust closure that closes with a reassuring snick and snap, beautifully finished with contrast metal. You can see that the watch, aesthetically, represents a great departure from prior six digit Daytonas because of the way the black dial just seems to flow seamlessly into a single, solid disc of noir with the bezel. It's impressive. It's imposing. It's powerful. It's also wonderfully simple. The fact that so much visual impact can be achieved without gem-setting, without two-tone, without any kind of guilloche gimmick, or bizarre metal finish speaks to just how essential, one might even say elemental, the appeal of this watch really is.

Note: as an authorized retailer, this model is only available for new purchase in our Philadelphia store. Visit us today or call us if you have any questions, or keep an eye out for it as a pre-owned piece.