# Rolex Daytona 116500LN: A Reference Guide

- Link: https://palazzowatches.com/reference-guide/daytona-panda-116500ln/
- Published: 2026-05-13
- Updated: 2026-10-15
- Author: Michael Martucci

Rolex · Daytona Rolex Daytona 116500LN: A Reference Guide The 40 mm steel-and-ceramic Daytona that ran from 2016 to 2023 — the white-dial "Panda" and black-dial "reverse Panda" that turned a $15,100 retail watch into a secondary-market staple trading well above retail. Specs, lineage, market data, and how the discontinued 116500LN sits against the 126500LN that replaced it. Quick answerThe Rolex Daytona 116500LN is the 40 mm steel Daytona with a black Cerachrom bezel, made from 2016 to 2023 with a white (“Panda”) or black dial. Rolex replaced it with the 126500LN in March 2023; its last US retail price was $15,100. It runs the caliber 4130 with a 72-hour power reserve, and pre-owned examples trade well above that price. Specifications Case material Oystersteel (904L stainless steel) Diameter 40 mm Lug-to-lug 47 mm Thickness 12.2 mm Movement Rolex caliber 4130 (manufacture chronograph, self-winding) Power reserve 72 hours Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz) Jewels 44 Water resistance 100 m / 330 ft Bezel Cerachrom (black ceramic) tachymeter, fixed Crystal Scratch-resistant sapphire, anti-reflective Bracelet Oyster, three-link, brushed center with polished sides. Oysterclasp with Easylink 5 mm extension Lume Chromalight (blue glow) Dial White ("Panda" — black sub-dials) OR Black ("reverse Panda" — white sub-dials) Chronograph Three sub-dials at 3 / 6 / 9, central seconds, 30-min and 12-hour counters Years produced 2016 – 2023 (discontinued) MSRP at retirement $15,100 USD (US, 2023) Country of origin Switzerland Reference family Cosmograph Daytona (sport / professional) Predecessor Rolex Daytona 116520 (2000–2016, aluminum bezel) Successor Rolex Daytona 126500LN (2023–present) Model History The Daytona name traces to Rolex’s 1963 reference 6239 — a manual-wind chronograph designed for the Daytona International Speedway in Florida. Rolex’s first decade of Daytonas struggled commercially; only the cult of Paul Newman, who wore an "exotic dial" 6239 throughout the 1970s, transformed the line from clearance-rack inventory into the most collectible Rolex in history. The 1988 caliber-4030-equipped 16520 (Zenith El Primero base) opened the modern era, and the 2000 caliber-4130 116520 was the first all-Rolex automatic Daytona movement. The 116500LN is the 2016 ceramic-bezel evolution of that 116520. Visually, the move from polished aluminum to matte Cerachrom black ceramic was the largest aesthetic change since 2000. Mechanically, the caliber 4130 carried over essentially unchanged — an indication of how thoroughly Rolex felt the prior 16-year run had validated the architecture. The bracelet, dial layout, sub-dial proportions, and 40 mm case carried through. Only the bezel material, the sub-dial-ring contrast (slightly tighter on the 116500LN), and minor handset tweaks distinguish the 116500LN from its predecessor in source material. For seven years the 116500LN was the steel sport Rolex with the longest waitlist in the world. Authorized Dealers reportedly required multi-year purchase histories before placing a single allocation. The secondary market reflected that scarcity: even pre-pandemic, white-dial examples traded materially above the $12,400 retail at launch; the 2021–2022 boom pushed prices far higher before they settled. In March 2023, Rolex retired the 116500LN and introduced the 126500LN — the same dial layout but now with caliber 4131 (improved magnetic resistance, nickel-phosphorous Chronergy escapement carried over from other modern Rolex calibers), slightly refined bracelet finishing, and a transparent caseback (a first for steel sport Daytonas). The 116500LN’s discontinuation cemented its status as the last sealed-back, caliber-4130 steel Daytona — and pushed clean examples back toward the upper end of the secondary band. Variations & Sub-References Reference Description Note 116500LN Cosmograph Daytona — Oystersteel, ceramic bezel, white "Panda" or black "reverse Panda" dial this reference (dial choice; same case ref) 116503 Cosmograph Daytona — Yellow Rolesor (steel + 18k yellow gold), champagne or black dial 116508 Cosmograph Daytona — solid 18k yellow gold, multiple dial options (green, black, leopard) 116509 Cosmograph Daytona — solid 18k white gold, multiple dial options (silver, black, ice blue) 116505 Cosmograph Daytona — solid 18k Everose gold, multiple dial options (chocolate, black, pink) 116515LN Cosmograph Daytona — Everose gold w/ Cerachrom bezel, brown rubber Oysterflex strap 126500LN Cosmograph Daytona — successor, current production (2023–present), caliber 4131, transparent caseback Market Pricing Rolex’s last US retail price for the 116500LN was $15,100 before the reference was retired in March 2023 and replaced by the 126500LN. On the secondary market, pre-owned 116500LN examples trade well above that last retail price, with white-dial "Panda" examples typically commanding a small premium over black-dial "reverse Panda" configurations. Full-set examples with 2022-2023 production stamps and minimal wear tend to occupy the top of the band, where 2016-2018 production with polished bracelets sits closer to the floor. The discontinuation premium has held steady since the 126500LN release — a pattern consistent with previous Daytona generation transitions. The market moves week to week — contact us for a quote on a specific piece you are buying or selling. MSRP (verified October 2026) is shown for reference, so you can see whether a watch trades above or below retail. Palazzo sells at secondary-market prices — see our current listings or ask us for a quote. Price-driving factors Dial color White-dial "Panda" examples typically command a premium of several thousand dollars over identical black-dial "reverse Panda" configurations. The Panda is the more iconic of the two and the closer aesthetic descendant of the Paul Newman Daytonas; collector demand is correspondingly higher. Year of production 2022-2023 stamps fetch a premium because they are the final year of caliber 4130 production. 2016-2018 examples, equally clean, sit closer to the floor of the band — early adopters bought to wear, not to collect, and bracelets often show it. Set status Full set (original Rolex box, warranty card with date stamp, anchor tag, booklets, and outer presentation case) commands a meaningful premium. Card stamp from an Authorized Dealer in a desirable city (NYC, Miami, LA, London) further compounds the premium. Bracelet condition The Oyster bracelet’s polished center links scratch readily. Heavily-polished bracelets discount a 116500LN; unpolished or factory-finish bracelets sit at the top of the band. Comparable References Rolex Daytona 126500LN Successor, current production. Open caseback and caliber 4131; the choice for buyers prioritizing latest-spec. Rolex Daytona 116520 Predecessor, aluminum bezel, 2000-2016. The pre-ceramic generation; choice for buyers who prefer the warmer aluminum patina. Rolex Yacht-Master II 116680 44 mm regatta chronograph, programmable countdown. Different complication, more wrist presence. Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Manual-wind chronograph, NASA flight-qualified. The natural entry-level chronograph alternative. Current 116500LN Inventory 2022 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN Panda Ceramic White Dial Steel Full Set $32,300.00 View watch See all pre-owned Daytonas → In Jersey City? See our pre-owned Rolex in Jersey City, or book watch repair & service at our Hudson Street showroom. Frequently Asked Questions Is the Rolex Daytona 116500LN still in production? No. The 116500LN was discontinued by Rolex in March 2023 and replaced by the reference 126500LN. The 116500LN remains widely available on the secondary market; new-old-stock examples with 2022-2023 production stamps still surface periodically. What is the difference between the 116500LN and the 126500LN? The 126500LN runs Rolex’s caliber 4131 (improved magnetic resistance, nickel-phosphorous Chronergy escapement carried over from caliber 32xx) where the 116500LN ran the caliber 4130. The 126500LN has a transparent sapphire caseback — a first for a steel professional Rolex sport watch — where the 116500LN was sealed. Bracelet finishing is slightly refined on the 126500LN. Visually they are very similar at arm’s length; the caseback is the most obvious differentiator on the wrist. Panda dial vs reverse Panda dial — which is more valuable? White-dial “Panda” examples typically trade at a small premium to identical black-dial “reverse Panda” configurations on the secondary market. The Panda is the more iconic configuration historically and the closer descendant of the Paul Newman Daytonas. Both are highly desirable; the gap is in low-thousands rather than tens of thousands. Why does the 116500LN trade above its retail price? The 116500LN was the most allocation-constrained steel sport Rolex of the last decade. Authorized Dealers throughout its 2016-2023 production run could not meet demand at the retail price, and the secondary market rose to clear the imbalance. Discontinuation in 2023 reinforced that pricing — the 116500LN is now a closed-production reference, and clean examples are not getting more abundant. How can I tell if my 116500LN is authentic? We mechanically inspect every Daytona before listing — caliber 4130 confirmed in the movement, serial cross-checked against Rolex production records, dial print and sub-dial ring spacing verified against era-correct reference samples, bracelet end-link and clasp finishing inspected against factory tolerances. Dial swaps and Frankenwatches are common in this reference class. We document each step and provide a written authentication summary at sale. Does the 116500LN come with a warranty? Every 116500LN we sell carries our lifetime movement warranty for first-time clients — we cover the movement for as long as you own the watch. Rolex’s own 5-year international warranty transfers with the original warranty card if the card is dated within that window from the original AD purchase. 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