In 2016, Rolex has introduced new stainless steel Rolex Daytona 116500LN with black Cerachrom bezel.It isn't a first for the Rolex Daytona, as the Everest Gold edition (ref. 116515LN) and the platinum edition (ref. 116506) were already fitted with a ceramic bezel. However, it is a first for the stainless steel edition. With a black bezel on the steel Daytona, Rolex makes a sort of back to basics, with a visual reference to the 1965 model (ref. 6240), which came at that time with a black Plexiglas bezel insert (also called bakelite insert). However, this early edition didn’t feature the large red Daytona inscription over the sub-dial at 6. In the actual configuration, the 2016 Rolex Daytona 116500LN is more a tribute to a later ref. 6263 (and that one had the screwed pushers AND the red Daytona logo).
The design of the tachymeter scale. Previously, the steel Rolex Daytona had horizontal numerals. The Rolex Daytona 116500LN now uses the same design as the gold and platinum edition, with a tachymeter scale following the shape of the bezel, and numerals written around it, in a circular shape.
Replica 2016 Rolex Daytona 116500LN in steel with ceramic bezel will still be available in two editions, white and black, like the previous edition. The indexes are still small pointers (and not numerals like some gold editions), made in 18 white gold, just like the hands – which are still using the same design, with a black line in the middle.
The sub-counters of the white Rolex Daytona 116500LN are however new. Before, they were silvered. On the white dial edition, they are now black, still snailed. It gives an almost Panda, kind of vintage 6263 look to this 2016 edition. This evolution is however limited to the white dial edition, as the black edition still relies on the snailed silver rings around the sub-counters.
The case and the bracelet of the Rolex Daytona 116500LN still made in 904L stainless steel, still 40mm, still with the screwed pushers, still water resistant to 100m and still with the same surfaces (almost fully polished). The bracelet is also still the same, with the typical Oyster design and satined external links and polished central link. It is mounted on a Oysterlock clasp, with the Easylink extender (which allows to increase the size of the bracelet of approximately 5mm).
