Cosmograph Daytona · Nickname guide
The white-dial ceramic Daytona — black sub-dials against white, like a panda's eyes.
Reference
116500LN
Years
2016–2023
Also called
Reverse Panda (black dial)
Bezel / dial
Black Cerachrom, white dial
Below: what makes the Panda (116500LN) distinctive, what to verify before buying, and how it fits the Naples collector scene.
When Rolex gave the steel Daytona a black ceramic bezel in 2016 (116500LN), it offered two dials: white and black. The white dial, with its three black registers, instantly drew the “Panda” nickname — a nod to vintage Daytona dial layouts and to the animal.
It became one of the hardest Rolexes to buy at retail, and the 116500LN was succeeded in 2023 by the calibre-4131 126500LN.
What to verify
In Naples
The Panda is the steel Daytona everyone wants, and Naples is no exception — expect to shop the secondary market well above retail. A clean dial and a full set are what separate a strong example from an ordinary one.
We are an independent reference, not a dealer: we cannot sell you a Panda or appraise one. What we can do is help you read the reference and know what separates a correct example from a cobbled-together one.
Panda FAQ
It is the white-dial steel Daytona (116500LN, 2016–2023) whose three black sub-dials against a white face recall a panda's eyes. The reverse colourway — black dial, white sub-dials — is the Reverse Panda.
The 116500LN was replaced in 2023 by the 126500LN with the updated calibre 4131. The white “Panda” dial continues on the new reference.
The steel Daytona has long been demand-constrained, with multi-year waitlists at retail. The popular white Panda dial only sharpened that, pushing secondary prices well above list.
Naples has an active Rolex market through retail, boutiques, and private sales — but Naples Rolex is an independent reference, not a dealer. We don't sell or broker watches. Use this guide to verify a Panda before you buy, wherever you find it.