If
you're enough of a luxury watch nerd to be reading this post, you
probably have some interest in the reference numbers of different
timepieces. They're what help you track down the precise model of Rolex you're looking for. Like this Cosmograph Daytona (Rolex ref 116500 LN)—the white-dial version of Rolex's 2016 update to the legendary Daytona model. So now you know the reference. But what do all those numbers and letters actually mean? Like most things Rolex, there's nothing arbitrary about the designation. The serial number is split into parts, each element denoting an attribute of the watch. For the Daytona, the serial breaks down as follows: 1165 tells you the watch is a Cosmograph Daytona. The first zero refers to a smooth or domed bezel. And the second zero means that this piece is manufactured in Rolex's 904L stainless steel.
Now, if you're a pre-owned luxury watch collector, you'll also know that Rolexes are the most faked timepieces in the world. And the serial number is one of your weapons against being duped. If your Rolex Daytona doesn't match the information in its serial number—so, for example, if the serial number is 116500 LN but the watch claims to be made from a material other than stainless steel, or has a non-smooth bezel—then you know you've got a dodgy copy on your hands. As many faked Rolexes are pretty well executed, it's insider knowledge of this kind that protects the purchaser when buying from a location other than a reputable dealer or a Rolex boutique.
So, we've identified that we're looking at a 2016-model Cosmograph Daytona, with a steel case, Oyster bracelet, and a smooth bezel (the case, incidentally, is 40 mm, and is waterproof to 100 metres). But what about those letters at the end of the serial number—LN?
Rolex has commonly used letters in its serial numbers. Starting in 1987 (with 'R' for Rolex), Rolex serial numbers had a letter prefix followed by numbers that identify the watch's production year (prior to 1987, numbers alone identified the production year). But letters in reference numbers? If seeing 'LN', 'LV', 'SARU' and so on after your watch serial number has got you scratching your head, don't worry. There's a perfectly simple explanation.
On the Rolex Daytona 116500 LN, the letters stand for 'Lunette Noir'. Or, in English: black bezel. LV would stand for 'Lunette Verte'. SARU is shorthand for 'Sapphire Ruby'—the two precious stones set into the bi-coloured Cerachrom bezel of the GMT Master II SARU 116758. And so on. So, again, if you're looking at a 'pre-owned' Rolex on eBay, or any other non-dealer site, you can use the suffixes in the reference number to triple-check the claims made by the seller. A Rolex with suffix LV, but no black bezel? Not for me, thank you.
There's a logic to everything Rolex does: from reference numbers to machine processes, it's all designed to streamline and perfect the endeavour of luxury watchmaking. And there was a logic to refreshing the steel Daytona in early 2016. The previous refresh had been almost 16 years previously, so it was high time fans of the popular model got a chance to get their wallets out again.
The Daytona 116500 LN was released in two variants: a black dial, with grey inverted snailing on the chrono counters, and white dial, with black snailing on the counters. This article specifically refers to the white-dial version.
As it's a 2016 model, the Daytona 116500 LN gets the Rolex Superlative Chronometer treatment, which means its 4130 calibre is accurate to -2/+2 seconds per day. And the other major update is that LN bezel. The 'Lunette Noir' is done in black Cerachrom (Rolex's in-house ceramic), and it's liquidly smooth to the touch. Yet as hard as the surface of a cold racetrack. The tachymetric scale (the raison d'etre for the Daytona) is engraved in white, for supreme ease of reading. In my opinion, that makes the white-dial version of the 116500 LN the one to seek out. It's a balance thing. The white detailing on the bezel echoes the white of the dial, and the black snailing on the subdials recalls the colour of the Cerachrom.
The highly-polished hour markers and hands are applied with Rolex's Chromalight blue lume. And as the chrono includes the classic 30-minute and 12-hour counters, you can time anything from a quick practice lap to a full 12-hour race—with that Chromalight display keeping you on top of the time even when you're racing at night. Chrono pushers screw in to lock, just like the crown, to ensure waterproofness when you need it. And, because this is a Rolex, those pushers have been engineered to actuate at precisely the right finger pressure: not so soft they can be accidentally started, and not so hard that the act of pressing the pusher interferes with the accuracy of the chrono hand (chronos can 'jump' when they start, which affects timing).
It's always interesting to talk about celebrities and their luxury watches—particularly when you're talking Rolex, a brand that is intimately associated with some of the most famous people on the planet. But when you talk about the Rolex Daytona, there's one name above all you have to mention. Paul Newman.
Paul Newman was the real deal: a blue-eyed, ruggedly handsome male movie lead who lived the life he portrayed in his pictures. In real life, or whatever passes for real in Hollywood, he was a racing team owner and a professional racing driver. In an extra-romantic link to the Rolex Daytona story, Newman became the oldest driver ever to record a win in the 24 Hours of Daytona event. Newman finished first in his class in 1995, at the age of 70.
In the watch-nerd world, Newman isn't only legendary for wearing Rolexes. He's also legendary for having them named after him. In the 1960s and 1970s, a series of six Rolex Daytonas came to be known as the 'Paul Newman' Daytonas. These included two Oyster models: the Oyster references 6265 and 6263. They are among the rarest Rolexes in the world, and fetch astonishing prices at auction. They're also among the most faked. Because the only thing that distinguishes a Paul Newman Daytona from a non-Newman Daytona is the dial.
Paul Newman Daytonas have what are called 'exotic' dials–in other words, non-standard versions of the regular dial for a luxury watch. They have the three chrono subdials, but they are decorated differently, often with novel fonts for the chrono counters or peculiar (for Rolex) colour schemes: like white dials with blue subs. According to watch blog Hodinkee, there are 'more fake Paul Newman dials in the world than there are for all other watches combined'. So if you're considering buying one, you'll need to pay attention to more than just the serial number.
The Rolex Daytona 116500 LN is the next chapter in the ongoing Daytona story. And its celebrity status is just as massive today as it was when Paul Newman strapped the first Daytona models onto his wrist. Actress Tara Reid is rarely seen without a Daytona. Fast and Furious badass Vin Diesel wears one. And yes, Kim Kardashian wears one too. You want to look Hollywood, you need a Daytona in your watch safe. It's a luxury watch that traces its lineage all the way back to Tinseltown's original cool cats. vedere di piu falso rolex e Chopard Grand Prix De Monaco Historique
