Black Dial Daytona

[Seaswirl]

Well, I'm on the verge of giving up on the white dial, and both ADs I deal with have told me I can get the black dial much much sooner. The only thing holding me back is legibility. I had a black dial 116520, and it was difficult for me to read the time. In certain lighting, the hands would appear black and get lost against the dial. I flipped it for the white dial which was much more legible. Asides from the Sub-rings, is the black dial on the 116500 easier to read from its previous iteration? Have yet to see one in the metal.

[904VT]

Don't own a 116500-Black myself, but can say the dial colors/tones are exactly the same as last gen. They all (6 dig SS) have that nice deep enamel look to them

[schnitzerphilip]

Originally Posted by Seaswirl

Well, I'm on the verge of giving up on the white dial, and both ADs I deal with have told me I can get the black dial much much sooner. The only thing holding me back is legibility. I had a black dial 116520, and it was difficult for me to read the time. In certain lighting, the hands would appear black and get lost against the dial. I flipped it for the white dial which was much more legible. Asides from the Sub-rings, is the black dial on the 116500 easier to read from its previous iteration? Have yet to see one in the metal.

Against the black of the dial you would find the legibility the same.

Against the silver of the sub-rings you would find legibility improved as the matte finish of the rings now contrasts behind the mirror gloss of the polished hands, you can differentiate them better now. Used to be that both the rings and the hands reflected light similarly, now they do not. Since 2/3 of the dials' real estate falls over the rings this is a significant improvement in legibility.

[sensui]

I've seen the 116500 in person for black, there is noticeable improvement in the subdials being more matte....I'm not certain though it'd dramatically improved legibility in most situations though.

[LBC4225]

Sub-Dials are easier for my eyes to read on the Ceramic

[zoenoadad]

Never had a problem, even in dim light (before the lume kicks in). The silver hands tend to reflect light pretty well, making them easy to read against the black dial. I love this watch!


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[lee fowler]

It is worth the wait!!

[Investr]

Originally Posted by lee fowler

It is worth the wait!!

Yes it is!!!!

[sensui]

Originally Posted by lee fowler

It is worth the wait!!

Yes. Yes it is.

[JR16]

Originally Posted by sensui

Yes. Yes it is.

Yes yes yes it is!


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[Rolexman17]

It's worth the wait!

[GsurgBM]

Wait it out.

[richard371]

The black is awesome can't go wrong either one but try and hold out for the white. It's worth it. I normally don't do white and it's my first but with the contrast black bezel and dials it looks great.

[key]

Certainly worth the wait if you are already concerned about legibility.

[TOlsen]

I guess you could pick up the black dial and have them change it to a white dial if you regret your choice of colour?

[Steve36Efc]

Black dial would be my first choice, but if you have any doubts wait for the white.

[Tom808]

Originally Posted by TOlsen

I guess you could pick up the black dial and have them change it to a white dial if you regret your choice of colour?

Why go through all the trouble...Just use it for now and sell it when you get the call for the white dial.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by TOlsen

I guess you could pick up the black dial and have them change it to a white dial if you regret your choice of colour?

I can't see Rolex agreeing to this dial swap on the D500s. They have a 1 year rule now which applies to the model being out before this can be done, but I suspect they might also make it apply to 1 year of ownership as well in this watch's case.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by AK797

I can't see Rolex agreeing to this dial swap on the D500s. They have a 1 year rule now which applies to the model being out before this can be done, but I suspect they might also make it apply to 1 year of ownership as well in this watch's case.

Patek also has the same 1 year rule, according to the sales rep, for a dial swap as long as it was originally offered.

Probably better off paying the pripemium to buy on secondary market Prather than pay Rolex for the dial swap and the extended wait.

[ap1]

Have one change to black. Wear, till white comes in from the other. Flip for 3k profit, now you have 9.4 k white dial. Send me a ty card fo the move. Bam.

[JR16]

Originally Posted by ap1

Have one change to black. Wear, till white comes in from the other. Flip for 3k profit, now you have 9.4 k white dial. Send me a ty card fo the move. Bam.

Not sure you can assume by the time he gets a white that he can flip for $3k profit ... maybe by then the price of pre-owned comes down to MRSP or less depending who he sells to.


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[richard371]

Yea no one know: when the price will level closer to retail.

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Don't settle! If it's the white dial you are after, wait, it'll happen eventually.

[Jarton]

Yes it is worth it.

[subtona]

i have had the 116520 in both black and white.
the white is absolutely easier to read. kept the white for about 6 months and the black for about 6 minutes.

i currently have the black dial 116500, i wish it was easier to read (perhaps it is just a bit easier to read than the previous black due to the not so shiny subdial rings) but i have not taken it off in over 2 months.

the white will be easier to read but i like the black.

[jschmidtdmd]

I have had the black dial three times, but just added the white dial.....honestly, I like the white more, but I still want the black back! I don't think you can go wrong either way.

I never gave the daytona much attention- now it is one of my favorites!

[Seaswirl]

Thanks all. The black is sexy, but I guess I'll wait it out a little (or lot) longer. Legibility is relatively important to me.

[CYKBC]

Black has depth. White looks like a budget chrono in my eyes.

[lee fowler]

Originally Posted by CYKBC

Black has depth. White looks like a budget chrono in my eyes.

Really??

[schnitzerphilip]

Originally Posted by CYKBC

Black has depth. White looks like a budget chrono in my eyes.

Originally Posted by lee fowler

Really??

I was a White fan for the first 6 months, but as I started studying the photos I noticed a few things that ultimately turned me into a Black fan, I've owned mine now entering my third week. Here's what you need to know:

1. Most critically, the 500 does not have a deep matte black dial, it has a translucency to it, in many lighting conditions it looks like a dark grey metallic, not a deep black lacquer. The bezel photographs very differently than it looks in real life, most photos have the contrast cranked way up. It is not the same as the black ceramic you know from the Submariner or the GMT. It is a different animal.

2. Because of Point 1, there is no true "panda" effect to the White Daytona. If anything, the black rings punctuate how not deep-black the bezel is. The rings don't match the bezel at most angles, they look like different colors.

3. Because of Point 2, the White Daytona 500 continues to look small just like the White Daytona 520 before it. The bezel frames and contains the white, same as it always has.

4. Because of Point 2 and 3, the White Daytona has a confusing look that, to me, is more distressing than legibility issues. White dial, black rings, mirror grey bezel, red text, and PCL polished/brushed bracelet make the White Daytona a cacophony of different shades of silver and black and mixed metals and disjointed elements. It's very busy.

5. And that brings us to the Black Daytona. Because the dial is black it pushes it's color out to include the bezel, tricks the eye into making the bezel darker than it actually is, makes it look like there is a big black disc of black flowing from the dial, over the bezel and onto the bracelet.

6. Because of Point 5, the Black Daytona 500 looks larger than the Black Daytona 520 and both White Daytona's. That's a very big deal. The Black Daytona has a primary visual cue of a "fused" black dial/bezel with silver rings that match the bracelet, it simplifies the noise and makes the watch look like many of the black/SS Rolexes of yore.

7. So because of all of this, the Black Daytona is the better choice. It looks larger and far less busy. And, frankly, has a lot of design language following the Submariner, a beloved classic, big disc of black atop a stainless bracelet. The White Daytona feels more like a Datejust with a white dial, glossy bezel, and PCL bracelet.

That's what changed me from a White fan to all-in on Black. You need to see both in person to truly get this. The photos don't tell the right story. The key is that the bezel is far less black than you think, the camera doesn't capture what is really going on in varying environments, and the black dial plants the watch and calms down all the noise whereas the white dial punctuates it.