Buying my first and only Rolex - 116520 vs 116500

[spudpuppy]

As a gift to myself for turning 40 (go me!) I've decided to finally purchase a "nice" watch. My daily wearer for the past 15 years was a VC Patrimony that my father, who has since passed, gave me when I graduated college. It has been through everything. I've worn it when I shouldn't have (swimming, hiking) and when I should have (wedding, birth of my son).

I never really felt comfortable spending a lot of money on a watch - but that has changed in the past couple of years as I've grown older and become more financially secure. In particular I want a "sports" watch - something I can wear with a t-shirt and jeans, at the beach, while camping, etc.

I want a Daytona and I'm willing to live with the markup/insane prices. I'm never going to sell it so I don't care about the investment. I'm torn between the 116520, which I like the look of better (more subtle), and the 116500, which I like the (perceived) durability of better (I don't like how "flashy" it comes off as). I'm either going to buy the 116500 new, or the 116520 NOS (or as close to NOS as I can get). Essentially I want the watch to start off as "new" so any damage/scratches are accumulated by me.

Given that I like the look of the 116520 better, my main concern has been the ease in which the steel case both scratches and fades. Just how big of a concern is this? Moreover, I know polishing is a controversial topic, but just how well can a reputable jeweler polish out scratches if, say in 10 years or so, I want to make my used 116520 look like new again?

Aesthetic preferences aside, is there anything else I should know about the 116520 that may give me pause? Part of me thinks the 116500 might "grow" on me as I become more accustomed to a sports watch - and maybe the flashiness I perceive in it is just because I'm so used to a simple watch with an alligator band. I like the fact that the 116500 will look "newer" for longer, or at least is easier to keep from looking scratched/faded...but if I can get the 116520 polished every 5-10 years (if I decide I want to) in order to bring it back to life then a lot of my concerns over it's perceived durability may go away.

[APPRF]

116500 Panda. Thank me after a couple of years

[Gwai]

Don't count on your future watch to "grow on you" - get the one you love.

Sadly, not an owner of either but I'm not aware of any issues that should keep you from going for the 116520.

Cheers
Marc

[rolexgs]

the 116500 panda for sure, even better than the new 126500!

[teabags001]

Ceramic for a daily wear. The steel bezel will show every scratch and that would drive me insane. I know they all scratch but I don’t stare at the band all day, but I look at the watch face quite often.


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[justdate]

You can get a replacement bezel for the 116520 at service, so after 10 years you could get a new bezel put on and it would look as crisp and fresh as brand new again! Those bezels don’t polish that well as the inlaid text fades - you will notice that on used examples - but it can do a light polish at a 5 year service probably OK. Then next time if it is scratched up I’d get a new bezel.

I think I would go for the 116520 if I was you, it just sounds like you prefer it - making it a very easy choice. Worth going and trying them on in person to be sure.

[WILLIWALKER]

116500 or the new 126500 white or black dial.
I have a 116520 and a 116519LN, my feeling is that there is a significant advance between them. Even more with the new movement on the 126.

Fantastic choice !!

[travisb]

Based on your post, it sounds like the 116520 is the one for you. It'll last you more than a lifetime and will stand up to anything.
Never buy a watch that you think might grow on you.

[boltz]

id go for 116500 but buying what you like matters.

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by travisb

Based on your post, it sounds like the 116520 is the one for you. It'll last you more than a lifetime and will stand up to anything.
Never buy a watch that you think might grow on you.

This ^. Provided you can afford the initial outlay, watch-buyer should be a matter of the heart, and heart alone.

[1William]

I have owned both generations of the the Daytona and prefer the ceramic bezel and dial of the 116500. The metal bezel, on the now two generations ago Daytona's, was always a scratch magnet and while I can live with scratches on the bracelet and clasp the bezel always bothers me. When it is time to service the metal bezel version Rolex will want to replace it. I have never been successful asking them to polish it. I own both of the SS 116500's and they are fine watches. The bigger question is which dial? Good luck and let us know what you decide.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by travisb

Based on your post, it sounds like the 116520 is the one for you. It'll last you more than a lifetime and will stand up to anything.
Never buy a watch that you think might grow on you.

Another agreed

[RaZCaL]

116500 for me but seems like you already have your mind set on the 116520. Always buy what you love!

[Jack T]

I’ve never been a chronograph fan in general, nor a Daytona in particular, but if I went after just one, it would be the 116520 white dial, just a great watch.

[ROlesorusLEX]

Just throwing this out there, but if you're not absolutely dead set on a Daytona, consider an Explorer 2 with either the black or white dial. True sports watch in every sense of the term.

But if it has to be a Daytona, then so be it. It will perform flawlessly for you.

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[Tricolore66]

I have both and prefer the 520 but if I was going wear one daily as my only watch I’d go with the 500 and probably put it on an oysterflex bracelet. Either that or just get a white gold Daytona on oysterflex.

[danwang0520]

personally, for the same money, I'd go for the modern Daytona....but to add to a collection, go vintage is fine

[ozwatchguy]

If possible you should try both watches on. Then decide.

Make sure you go for a 116520 that’s 2009+ or newer, as the clasp has the new style.

The bracelets are the same, the cases are the same. Pretty much only difference is dial and bezel between 116520 vs 116500.

I’ve got a 2009 116520, it’s an awesome watch! But you could say it still looks a bit flashy as the light bounces off bezel. Also mine is a “APH” dial (might not mean much now but sometimes these little “error” dials might be worth more later on)

I do think the 500 will take a better beating with the ceramic bezel


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[TheWatchmen]

I own the white 116500, so biased but would go with that one hands down.

Forget the scratches worries on either for now, and don’t let that influence your decision.

Here’s what I do, and it almost always works when making a decision: Go to sleep tonight, and when you wake up tomorrow - whatever your first instinct or desire is, is the one you choose. Don’t allow your mind time to play scenarios, go with your first thought and don’t look back.

[karleone]

Both are amazing watches. Please note that the 116520 polished bezel is a scratch magnet. The 116500 ceramic bezel is an amazing addition to this watch!
Whatever the watch you chose you should never polish it because repolished lugs never look good on 116520/116500 that have polished lugs and it will make them round and not as sharp as a factory unpolished watch.

I have daily worn my 116500 since 2018 and absolutely love it!

[Halifax Daytona UK]

Originally Posted by ozwatchguy

If possible you should try both watches on. Then decide.

Make sure you go for a 116520 that’s 2009+ or newer, as the clasp has the new style.

The bracelets are the same, the cases are the same. Pretty much only difference is dial and bezel between 116520 vs 116500.

I’ve got a 2009 116520, it’s an awesome watch! But you could say it still looks a bit flashy as the light bounces off bezel. Also mine is a “APH” dial (might not mean much now but sometimes these little “error” dials might be worth more later on)

I do think the 500 will take a better beating with the ceramic bezel


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116520 for me but I’m biased

[jed11]

If you prefer the older version, then by all means go in that direction. You mentioned that it is more ‘subtle’. Obviously it’s all personal preference and perception but I actually think the new models are more subtle…the shiny bezel when combined with the PCL’s really make it dressier and let subtle. Again, personal opinion here.


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[enjoythemusic]

Welcome to TRF. ALWAYS get what YOU love and that appears to be the 116520. Wear it, daily, let scratches and dings happen, they are normal and are 100% fine. In about 10 years send her to Rolex Service and she will come back as new.

Then wear it daily. Let scratches and dings happen. It's normal. Then in ten years send it into Rolex service. It'll come back looking new, yet is now 20 years old.

And so once again wear it daily. Let scratches and dings happen. It's normal. Then in ten years send it into Rolex service. It'll come back looking as-new, yet is now 30 years old.......

[JJGreen]

You really can't go wrong. Because it's for a special occasion I would get the current model...turning 40 in 2023, get the 2023 version.

Patrimony swimming...that's cool!

[rockysw]

I had a 116520 but then changed it to 116500. Both are great watches but between the two I prefer 116500.

116520 I think has a different look to 116500 (despite the similarities). 116520 was in some lights very blingy (all shinny surfaces inclduing polished bezel and subdials) not something I liked. I preferred the look in low lights when it appeared toolish.

If you want one, go for 116500.

[dannyp]

I like the look of the 520 better, but anything other than BNIB, from AD, is a non-starter on this kind of purchase for me personally. So doing what I could to get a 500 would be my priority. Preferably black dial.

[Michael T]

Originally Posted by justdate

You can get a replacement bezel for the 116520 at service, so after 10 years you could get a new bezel put on and it would look as crisp and fresh as brand new again! Those bezels don’t polish that well as the inlaid text fades - you will notice that on used examples - but it can do a light polish at a 5 year service probably OK. Then next time if it is scratched up I’d get a new bezel.

I think I would go for the 116520 if I was you, it just sounds like you prefer it - making it a very easy choice. Worth going and trying them on in person to be sure.

This. Couldn’t have write it better myself.

[dannyp]

Another thing to consider (maybe): markup on most WG models seems less than in steel, and the new 126509 can be had in configurations very similar to the old 520. Though if scratches are a concern then maybe WG not the best.

[goodolejr]

1. Go with your gut.

2. If you're in a city with gray dealers, go try them on.

3. When you say "flashy," if you are referring to visual contrast and pop, you will want to avoid the 500 white dial and the 520 black dial.

Otherwise, if by "flashy," you meaning showiness and hype, just avoid the 500 white dial.

4. See #1 again.

Happy birthday and best of luck!

[figb]

I’ve always wanted the 116520 so I’ll definitely go with that.