Complete SS Daytona Comparison - 116520, 116500, and the New 126500 - GEN vs Clean Factory...

[M Scott]

February 2024
This is a comparison of the popular Stainless Steel Case and Bracelet Rolex Daytonas produced from 2015 to the Present.

- A Brief Stainless Steel Genuine Daytona Guide -

Key features that make each of these watches different...

- The 116520 was produced from 2000 to 2015 and has a Stainless Steel Bezel.
- The 116500 replaced the 116520 in 2016 and is produced with a Ceramic Bezel.
- The New 126500 replaced the 116500 in 2023 with a Stainless Steel Ring around a Ceramic Insert.

- The Rolex Logo and the Wording under it changed from the 116520 dial to the replacement 116500.
- The Rolex Logo and the Wording under it are the same on the 116500 and the newer 126500.
- The Rolex Font is different leaving more space around the letters on the newer 116500 and 126500 dials.
- The Rolex name is about the same width, but the spacing of the wording under it is narrower.
- If you compare the location of T in Oyster in relation to the R in Rolex, the difference is easy to see.
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- The Size and Thickness of the Sub-dials appears to be the same for all of the 116520 and 116500 dials, with the exception of the Black 116500.
- The Sub-dials on the Black 116500 are slightly thinner than the other dials as shown in the picture below.
- On the Black dials, the Silver Sub-dials are a less shinny, matte finish on the 116500 Ceramic Bezel watch.
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- The new 126500 Dials have thinner Sub-dials, and the 126500 Black Dial matte finish Silver Sub-dials have Thin Bright Silver Rings added to the outside edges.
- The 126500 Dials also have thinner, redesigned indices, and a very small Crown printed below the 6 o'clock marker.
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- The 126500 Daytona Cases are 0.5mm Thinner with a redesigned profile.
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- 116520 Steel Bezel Daytonas -
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- 116500 Ceramic Bezel Daytonas -
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- New 126500 Ceramic Insert Daytonas -
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Direct Comparison Gen Pictures of 116500 and the new 126500 Daytonas...


- 116500 and 126500 Black Dial Daytonas -
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- 116500 and 126500 White, Panda Dial Daytonas -
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Direct Comparison Clean Factory Pictures of 116520, 116500 and the new 126500 Daytonas...


- New 126500 Panda Dial Clean V1 and Gen Daytonas -
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- Clean 116500 and the New 126500 Panda Dial Clean V1 -
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- Clean 116520, 116500 and the New 126500 Panda Dial Clean V1 -
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- Clean 116520, 116500 and the New 126500 Black Dial Clean V1 -
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[Davidoff06]

Thanks you for this detailed pictures and explanations.

 

[cubicmangoes]

Splendid comparison! I wasn't aware that the 126500 is 0.5mm thinner than 116500.

 

[Benodino]

Nice job!

 

[exoticbabe]

thanks for the comparisons!
I still dont understand why rolex did all the changes thats worse imo, thinner subdial, bulkier looking case and thinner hour markers making the watch appear larger too

 

[purplehaze89]

Is it just me or do the lug lengths look very short on the CF?

 

[M Scott]

Is it just me or do the lug lengths look very short on the CF?

This is a much better picture to use to compare the lugs as both watches were together in the same camera shot.

Different cameras and lenses tend to distort the pictures a bit depending on how far the camera is away from the watch. Comparing the flat dials side by side in photoshop is easy, but the different watch pictures can tend to distort when you get farther from the center of the dial.
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[Fettekatze]

Gist of it is:

• Bezel diameter is the same
• Lugs and crown guards are thicker
• New Daytona actually measures a tad thinner than the old one
• New Daytona has smaller wrist span as its center SEL doesn't stick out as much

 

[RX7GP]

They pushed all buttons for this 126 version. Too many changes but none of them are good in my opinion. Chunky case, huge crown guards, thin subdials, thin markers, weird looking lugs.

Still not sure how i feel about that outer ring. It reduces the sporty look.

116 is way better, more timeless, more sporty, more pronounced.

 

[M Scott]

- I first put all of these comparison pictures together for myself to try and decide if I wanted a New Black Dial Clean 126500...

- Or one of the last Clean V3 Black Dial 116500 Daytonas with the proven DD4130 movement before they are gone.

Then I decided to post them all here to share...
- In the end I chose the V3 116500, and just approved what may be the best QC photos that I have ever seen for this version. Other than a very slight Ceramic Bezel alignment, that will be corrected when the Deep Crystal is installed, this one looks just about perfect for an OOTB example.

No matter which one you choose, Clean is really doing outstanding work with these Daytonas now.

 

[M Scott]

Gen 126500 and 116500 side by side...
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[Amotik]

- I first put all of these comparison pictures together for myself to try and decide if I wanted a New Black Dial Clean 126500...

- Or one of the last Clean V3 Black Dial 116500 Daytonas with the proven DD4130 movement before they are gone.

Then I decided to post them all here to share...
- In the end I chose the V3 116500, and just approved what may be the best QC photos that I have ever seen for this version. Other than a very slight Ceramic Bezel alignment, that will be corrected when the Deep Crystal is installed, this one looks just about perfect for an OOTB example.

No matter which one you choose, Clean is really doing outstanding work with these Daytonas now.

I also just bought a beautiful 116500 V3

 

[RiffRalf]

Terrific stuff MScott!

 

[galevin]

So the most desired watch above is the Clean V3 Black Dial 116500 Daytonas with the proven DD4130 movement.

 

[Paolo1966]

The Clean126500 is a quite perfect watch.. and in the last watches produced the quality has been improved without a real newer version.

Regarding the 116500 some of the latest V3 black dials are 99.9 like the gen.. and combined with the btf case make the perfect Daytona.

 

[teop93]

Amazing comparison. Awsome job man

 

[yuzulicious]

Would like to ask all DD4130 owners here how is this movement tracking time? Is there any significant time difference difference per day?