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The Ultimate Daytona Buying Guide (Ref. 116520/116500)

Welsh Whiskey

Do not accept unsolicited offers
19/3/22
11
3
3
Exactly what I’ve needed as a newbie to this “hobby”.. thanks for producing this.


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Bcwk27

Do not accept unsolicited offers
3/2/22
1
0
1
Has anyone gotten a EWF recently? I'm planning to drop the bomb on 116519LN, and my TD feels that EWF and ARF is almost the same as both are using modified 7750 movements, just that 1 has functional chrono and the other doesn't. Full function or not isn't a deal breaker for me. Durability and price is. So which should i go for? TIA
 

Zodir

Getting To Know The Place
26/3/22
16
1
3
So CF have the best 116500 Panda but who makes the best Black dial 116500?
 

klokkenor

Do not accept unsolicited offers
29/5/21
10
0
1
Just sent my noob 116500 panda for update, went for new gasket, new crystal, and cf bezel. Any other recommended upgrades?
 

DSignR

Getting To Know The Place
27/10/21
97
145
33
Germany
Is this BTF model new and worth a consoderation?

https://www.intime06.co/rollie/8429-...et-sa4130.html


I was also wondering bout this. Pictures look quite strong. Only the crown of the clasp got me thinking a bit (hm?!?). It seems BTF even got the 3 dots under the crown of the crown better (right?!) than CF ...
CF has them in a straight line (which is not correct?!).
BTF has them slightly curved.

BTF is also now listed on several other dealer sites (TrustyTime also for example ... and here even a bit more expensive then CF).
 
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DSignR

Getting To Know The Place
27/10/21
97
145
33
Germany
jSTpS5.jpg


... ok, I'm confused ... it seems even ROLEX sometimes makes straight line and sometimes curved?!
 
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DSignR

Getting To Know The Place
27/10/21
97
145
33
Germany
So, after some more research ...

As seen on the pic above from the ROLEX site, the Daytona 116500LN Panda seems to have a curved line of the dots, like BTF does it (and also NOOB did it, so CF would be wrong here(?!)).


But for example the Daytona 116503 YG-SS has a straight line for the dots ... AND the middle dot is bigger (CF has three equal dots on their models):




Also the new Daytona models seem to have it like this (three dots on a straight line, middle dot bigger), see e.g. the new meteorite 116519LN:




... so far bout that :|
 

DSignR

Getting To Know The Place
27/10/21
97
145
33
Germany
Ah, ok ... thanks for making that clear(er) ... so the type of crown decides which logo variation goes on it, makes sense.
Although it doesn't seem to be the whole story?!?
As seen on the pics above from ROLEX website:
The Daytona 116503 Yellow Gold (duo tone) has a straight line for the dots with bigger middle dot ... and the same goes for the new White Gold / Meteorite 116519LN, straight line (not curved like shown on the graphic).
(I'm wondering if ROLEX maybe sometimes puts some "irregularities" in their official pics to confuse the rep industry a bit, haha ;)
 
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79watchdad

Active Member
Banned
Supporter
7/2/22
372
43
28
usa
is noob V4 panda worth the money ? or is CF the best now ?


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DSignR

Getting To Know The Place
27/10/21
97
145
33
Germany
is noob V4 panda worth the money ? or is CF the best now ?


Well, I have two Noob Daytonas (Version 2 and 3) and the quality of both watches is great (despite the known few inaccuracies compared to a gen) ...
Right now I'm waiting what will be the next models of Clean Factory (CF) and Better Factory (BTF) ... if it contains one of my favorites, then I'll go for it and could compare if they are better, worse or equal to good ol' Noob. Only if you really have them next to each other and can touch and feel the edges and processing quality you can really tell the difference (if there is any).

From pics alone, as mentioned above, I would say BTF is now the best you can get. Prices vary, sometimes same as CF, sometimes less / more than CF. Here the best price I saw so far:
Rolex Daytona 116500 SS/SS Black Dial 904L BTF SA4130
https://www.theonewatches.io/index.php?route=product/product&path=431_443&product_id=12126

Rolex Daytona 116500 SS/SS White Dial 904L BTF SA4130
https://www.theonewatches.io/index.php?route=product/product&path=431_443&product_id=12127
 

pafou

Known Member
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Certified
5/8/18
180
156
43
Good evening gents,

Am I the only one who has the impression that the rep weighs much more than the Gen?
i had the chance to try both within 15 minutes at the MBK mall in Bangkok and I was surprised how much lighter the gen is compared to the rep. Any idea why?

Additionally, has anyone of you ever weighed the CF version of the 116520 for instance? I’d be curious. I researched the topic but didn’t find anything.
 

Pure78

This member is doing hard time, they pissed off the goat.
INMATE
Certified
23/2/22
358
87
28
Good evening gents,

Am I the only one who has the impression that the rep weighs much more than the Gen?
i had the chance to try both within 15 minutes at the MBK mall in Bangkok and I was surprised how much lighter the gen is compared to the rep. Any idea why?

Additionally, has anyone of you ever weighed the CF version of the 116520 for instance? I’d be curious. I researched the topic but didn’t find anything.

CF 141, the gen 140
 
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Nono92

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24/11/21
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There are currently two makers who build the best Daytonas. Those are either ARF or CF, with both offering either the 116520 or 116500 version of this watch.
Hi,
I have a few questions :
Do you know if CF builds himself the clone movement ? Otherwise, who makes it ?
Statistically, do we often have problems with these clones during the ten first years ? Thank you.
Regards.
 

Nono92

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24/11/21
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Hi,
Does the Daytona with a carbon case really exist as a gen ? Regards.
 

Nono92

I'm Pretty Popular
24/11/21
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Hi,
Does the Daytona with a carbon case really exist as a gen ? Regards.