Released in 2006, Rolex's Daytona reference 116500LN carries on its shoulder the long lasting and rich history of the Rolex Daytona. Reference 116500LN is the first reference since the Rolex references 6263 and 6241 bearing a black bezel rather than a metallic one.
The case, at 40mm in diameter remains extremely comfortable and the screw-down pushers do not intrude with neither the watch nor the wrist. The present example is further fitted with a white "panda" dial; however, a black version has also been made available with the same reference. The black ceramic bezel and subdials beautifully contrast the white dial giving the watch that extra sporty look.
Inside, the watch is powered by the in-house caliber 4130, a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Outstandingly reliable the watch boasts a 72-hour power reserve.
Extremely desired and tremendously unattainable the watch has now become one of the most sought-after timepiece from the current Rolex collection. Accompanied by its full set of accessories and in attractive overall condition, the present example is a must have for collectors of both modern and vintage Rolexes.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.