2018 Rolex Daytona "Panda" / Ceramic / White

Introduced at Baselworld in 2016, the reference 116500 demonstrates Rolex’s unparalleled mastery of noticeably advancing collections while still nodding to the past. Replacing the 116520, this updated Daytona is most easily distinguished by its black Cerachrom bezel, as seen on both the white and black dial variants. Though Rolex had fitted Daytona models with Cerachrom bezels in the past, the 116500’s release marks their first instance of doing so on a stainless steel model. The reference is also representative of a return to form, as its dial features contrasting subdial surrounds similar to that of the Zenith Daytona. Paired with a black ceramic bezel, this most modern watch channels the spirit of even earlier Daytona’s fitted with black acrylic bezels, making it the ultimate horological marriage of 1970s flair and today’s advanced engineering. After having been anticipated for years by collectors, prior to its release, it’s now firmly positioned as the brand’s most desirable model.