Panda 116500 vs 126500

[brandrea]

The 126 looks more refined to my eye

[10splaya]

Good responses!

It just kills me to pay double retail LOL

I guess one day down the road it will be worth the same price or a little more

I doubt its worth 30k but...at least one day it won't be worth 15k

IDK well see its a lot of money to blow on a watch LOL

[Spoonage]

I have a white 116500 and predominantly like it better than the looks on the new one. Not a fan of the outer ring around the ceramic insert. I do however prefer the dial on the new one to mine. Case is up in the air. I do like the quirkiness of the mismatched lug widths, but also do like the new case as well... I'm not really helping but IF I had to choose I would go previous vs new.

[EEpro]

Plutonium is by far the best element.

[kritameth]

I own both, and it's tough. Sentimentally, the 116500LN was my wedding watch. That aside and trying to be as objective as possible, if I was starting over the "pros" and "cons" are not material enough for me to not go for the current reference from an AD. It gets tougher when talking secondary with similar prices. I prefer the case shape (w.r.t. both the asymmetry and side profile) of the 116, but the size of the 126 on my 7" wrist, for the type of watch I envision the Daytona to be (a sports watch, first and foremost), is just about perfect (funny that in actuality, outside these hypotheticals, the 116 is my "dress" watch, so the size is beautiful). The overall dial/subdial balance looks a bit better to me on the 116, but I prefer the 16520-esque indices of the 126. Really nitpicking here IMHO. Indifferent about the crown guard and bezel ring. In conclusion, they're both great; it's the 116 for me personally, for sentimental reasons, but it easily could've been the 126.

[RollingInTheDeep]

Will say the same as many others have. Also will note in case it's lost on anyone, to debate which $30k watch is better, which that looks identical to ~90%+ of the population, is one hell of a good problem to have :) Of course, no one is buying it for anyone else but themself, so a warranted debate!

1. 12 black > 11 black.
2. 11 white > 12 white - due to the same reason others have said. Thinner dials throw off contrast balance due to thickness of bezel. SS ring doesn't feel right, though realize others like/love it.
3. Not sure if other's agree, but I feel like Rolex went "all out" when designing the 11, where they needed to "find" ways to update it for the 12.

[Manamana]

The Panda is the original 116500 that started the whole Rolex hype, the first reference to be become an obtainable from Rolex, original ceramic white dial steel Daytona that was introduced in 2016 and started the 10 years+ waiting lists if you manage to get on the waiting list in the first place that is. The new 126500 white dial Daytona is fine, but it should be given a new Nickname or just the white dial 126500 Daytona. The nickname haters and reference number lovers will be happy with it.

[karleone]

In case you haven’t decide yet

[nachopc]

Originally Posted by karleone

In case you haven’t decide yet

Amazing


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[karleone]

Originally Posted by nachopc

Amazing


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Thank you so much!

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by 10splaya

Im thinking about getting a new Panda Daytona

What are the plus and minus of the 2024 126500 vs the 116500

As far as aesthetics looks performance etc etc?

Is the Panda worth spending double retail?

Thanks in advance

Poke around on the forum. There are several multi-page threads on this topic......

[Polarexplorerii]

I can not stomach paying $30K for SS knowing for a few thousand more you can get a full PM piece.

[karleone]

Originally Posted by Polarexplorerii

I can not stomach paying $30K for SS knowing for a few thousand more you can get a full PM piece.

The retail price is like 15/16K

[928ktgold]

Originally Posted by Polarexplorerii

I can not stomach paying $30K for SS knowing for a few thousand more you can get a full PM piece.

$10k more plus tax so $4k more after that

[IGY]

Originally Posted by Polarexplorerii

I can not stomach paying $30K for SS knowing for a few thousand more you can get a full PM piece.

For a few thousand more you'd be getting a PM on Oysterflex, not a full PM piece. A full PM on solid Oyster would be about $10-15k more.

But regardless the point you are making is solid: the upsell to PM / Oysterflex with a small grey premium to RRP (or even at RRP if your AD likes you) starts to look a lot more appealing. More attractive than lining the pockets of grey dealers with a premium that is may well continue to erode if the global economy weakens further.

[MannyMann]

It all depends on your preference, we could have diverse opinion based on what we individually like, I'd go for the 12 series as it looks more refined and well finished in my eyes IMO.

[rockysw]

if you have to buy gray then try it on and see which one you like more.

I had to make the same call last year and I went with 116500 white dial (asymmetrical case, full ceramic bezel and overall sportier look were the key deciding factors for me).

[qtracer]

Just made this call on the 116519LN vs 126519LN (ghost), I went the direction of the 116, but for me, availability and the $ delta played a roll as I thought going grey market the better bang for the buck was in the 116.

From the pics, I do find some evolution in the 126, the main one for me would be the glide lock on the Oysterflex band, not sure if the steel added the gridlock as you can add or remove links?

[Duke10]

Thikkkk bezel


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[Kenny G]

The 126 is a classy but fairly discreet update. Is it worth 30k USD? No…

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by Kenny G

The 126 is a classy but fairly discreet update. Is it worth 30k USD? No…

This for sure. I enjoy wearing mine but might also enjoy seeing $30,000 more in my 5% apy cash account.

[karleone]

Originally Posted by EEpro

This for sure. I enjoy wearing mine but might also enjoy seeing $30,000 more in my 5% apy cash account.

Is this RolexForums or InvestingYourMoneyForums ??

[milgauss2232]

Everyone’s talking about the case and dial, are there any differences in the bracelets and any changes? Opinions on which bracelet is ‘better’?

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by milgauss2232

Everyone’s talking about the case and dial, are there any differences in the bracelets and any changes? Opinions on which bracelet is ‘better’?

Identical bracelets. I think it has a new part number for the top level assembly but the pieces parts (links and buckle) are identical.

Edit: as Karleone pointed out the end link was modified to match the new lugs.

[karleone]

Originally Posted by milgauss2232

Everyone’s talking about the case and dial, are there any differences in the bracelets and any changes? Opinions on which bracelet is ‘better’?

The endlink design is different

[10splaya]

Well..double retail is a killer thats for sure....

Something to think about...

I wish I had a connection to get one a lot less expensive!!

:)

[daysky1]

Personally I would not spend double retail on any Rolex. ? However it's your money and you can spend it however you want. I have two Steel daytonas in the discontinued reference one black dial one white dial and another two-tone yellow gold in the discontinued reference black dial. I am a fan of the discontinued reference I think it has a little more character, however after reviewing more and more of the new reference I'm starting to become a fan of it also.

[worldofoyster]

prefer the 11xxxx

[t65tampa]

I have a 116500 black and a 126500 white. I love them both, but I would give the nod to the 126500 primarily because of that cool bezel ring around the ceramic insert as I think it adds a nice detail.

I do not like the name "panda" for the white dial Daytona. The white dial Daytona is not a traditional "panda" contrast of white dial with black subdials.

Daytona is my favorite Rolex watch, so I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

[thegrandseirolexguy]

What was that saying? Once you go black, there’s no turning back?

In my case, I went black, so I can’t and don’t want to turn back anymore.


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