Once a watch that was often left to collect dust in the display cases of authorized dealers around the world, the Rolex Daytona has exploded with unprecedented popularity over the last decade. Waitlists continue to get longer and grey market prices continue to grow higher for the Daytona but is it possible that there is one sleeper in its lineup?
Don’t get me wrong, it is a bit ridiculous to call a watch that sells for $10,000 over its original MSRP a sleeper but hear me out…
We are looking at 5 criteria that should provide a comprehensive overview of the watch and aid anyone who is considering adding it to their collection. Use our quick links below to help navigate;
History of the Daytona 116520
Rolex presented their first chronograph to the market in 1955, however it was not until ten years later in 1965 when the name Daytona appeared on the dial as we know and love today. The watch gained its name from the famous Daytona Speedway, home of the Daytona 500 race in which Rolex became the official time keeper in the early 1960’s. There are almost too many references of the Daytona to count, spanning across 50+ years and 100’s of variations. For the sake of brevity we’ll only look at the reference prior to the 116520 along with the reference that proceeded it.
In 1988 Rolex unveiled the Daytona reference 16520 which laid the foundation for the 116520 by adding a sapphire crystal in place of Plexiglas, increasing the case diameter from 37mm to 40mm and giving people the choice of black or white dials. Although impressive additions, the most notable change to the 16520 was its use of a Zenith El Primero modified movement to power it. The use of another’s movement was and still is a very “un-Rolex” move which made the 16520 highly unusual and now highly collectable. It is now nicknamed the “Zenith Daytona”.
Twelve years later, in 2000 Rolex decided enough is enough and introduced the reference 116520 with their own engine powering the watch. The 116520 sported a brand new in-house automatic 4130 movement marking Rolex’s first automatic chronograph movement. In addition to the 4130, the 116520 was a much more refined watch with the additions of maxi hands/hour markers, solid end links on the bracelet and a new clasp featuring an easy link adjustment.
Finally, in 2016 the 116520 was replaced by the wildly popular 116500LN which is more less the same watch as the 116520 in every way except for the use of a black Cerachrom bezel insert instead of the traditional Oystersteel.
Case & Bracelet
The Daytona is widely thought to be the best proportioned model in Rolex’s lineup of professional watches. It has a forgiving 40mm diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug and an impressive 12.2mm thickness that gives the Daytona the ability to fit big and small wrists alike.
Utilizing the same Oyster case and bracelet as we’ve come to expect on all Rolex professional models, the Daytona feels extremely well built and sturdy on the wrist. The watch is finished with predominantly polished surfaces that include the case, bezel and center links on the bracelet/clasp. The polished finishing suits the watch as the Daytona is currently known as the ultimate Rolex flex, it is worn by those who want to stand out from the hundreds of thousands of people who are currently on the “waitlist” to get their own. One thing to consider about all of the polished surfaces is that the Daytona will be prone to picking up its fair share of scratches rather quickly.
The watch itself is water resistant up to 100m thanks to its screw down crown and pushers. Some find screw down pushers a nuisance due to the extra time spent opening and closing them with each use of the chronograph function. As someone who enjoys engaging with watches I don’t see this as much of a drawback. Additionally, the added water resistance is a huge luxury for a chronograph to have.
Dial
The 116520 comes in both black and while glossy dial variants, both of which are equally handsome. The dial itself has a lot going on with raised hour markers, 4 lines of text at 12 and subdials at 3, 6 & 9. In saying this, the Daytona somehow finds a way to maintain its legibility and symmetry perfectly.
Instead of using the classic Mercedes handset as they have used on every other professional model (besides the Milgauss) the Daytona opts for thinner hour, minute and chronograph hands which greatly improves legibility on the busy dial by staying out of its way.
The dial is visible through a sapphire crystal free of an anti reflective coating which can give some a blinding glare when combined with the glossy dial and polished case. All in a chronograph is one of the hardest dials to get right and the Daytona walks that fine line very, very well.
Movement
Up until the release of the 116520 Rolex had been using a modified Zenith El Primero movement in the Daytona lineup of watches. As mentioned above, this was a very uncharacteristic move for the crown.
The release of the Dayona 116520 in 2000 brought Rolex’s first in-house automatic chronograph movement in the 4130 along with it. Boasting an impressive COSC certification, 72 hour power reserve and a whopping 60% fewer components than that of the El Primero, which greatly improved its reliability. The 4130 is truly a legendary movement and provides that Rolex robustness and reliability one should expect in one of their watches.
Wearability
I believe that the Daytona is the best proportioned watch in Rolex’s repertoire, as the watch can fit almost any wrist comfortably due to its forgiving proportions. Technically speaking the Daytona is a “sports watch” so it should work best as a weekend watch and cruising around in a jeans and T-shirt, however, the Daytona has evolved into so much more than this.
Its refined look and accommodating dimensions allows the 116520 to move past the casual wear and into dressier attire quite easily by slipping underneath a cuff. Black tie might be the one place where you would opt for another watch but as time goes by and the rules of fashion become more lax – who knows?
Often it is tough to recommend a chronograph as a “one watch collection” watch for one of two reasons. The first is that the pushers represent a weakness in the case that limits its water resistance and ability to take a beating. The second reason is that the watch is too rugged and bulky that it looks out of place unless it’s being used as a tool out in the field. The Daytona, specifically the 116520 is the exception and can truly be worn 365 days of the year.
Verdict
If it’s not abundantly clear at this point the 116520 is an all-around winner of a watch.
As crazy as it might seem for a watch that sells for $10,000 over its initial retail cost in the secondary market, I see the 116520 as the sleeper Daytona. Sandwiched in between the blazing hot and collectable “Zenith” Daytona and the 116500LN Ceramic Daytona. The 116520 offers all the looks of the 16520, with the same movement in the 116500LN for a substantially lower price tag.
The Daytona is arguably the most hyped watch in existence today and for good reason. Its brilliant design, robust movement and a storied heritage really set this watch apart from the rest. For this reason the Rolex Daytona 116520 gets a solid 500 out of 500 laps around the Daytona 500 Speedway.
For pricing reference;
16520 – Current Value: $35,000 – $40,000 USD
116520 – Current Value: $22,000 – $27,000 USD
116500LN (Ceramic Daytona) – Current Value: $32,000 – $37,000 USD
***Prices are subject to change estimates are based on prices as of 5/31/2021
Case: 40mm