[Poll] 116500LN (White) or 126500LN (White)

[milgauss2232]

So definitively… does 1265 or 1165 looks like it wears smaller? I would like the smaller one as my wrist is on the small side

[milgauss2232]

(Double post please delete)

[thurualle]

Originally Posted by milgauss2232

So definitively… does 1265 or 1165 looks like it wears smaller? I would like the smaller one as my wrist is on the small side

I'll say the 1165 wears smaller as the pushers and crown are more centrally balance vis-a-vis the watch in its entirety.

I honestly didn't even notice the asymmetrical lugs too much until i saw the back shot of both side by side. If we're just looking at the lugs alone, yes the asymmetry is quite glaring on the 116500, and very obvious if you're comparing side by side with the 126500 from the back. However, looking at the 116500 as a whole, and comparing the overall shape of both watches with pushers and crown, it is just as obvious that the assymetry serves to round off the shape of the 116500 much more compared to the 126500.

I guess there are probably the same number of people who like having the jutting pushers with symmetry as there are who prefer a more overall balance shape with asymmetrical lugs. It's a chronograph afterall, and pushers are all part of the aethetic. Personally, i find having the purposefully shaped asymmetrical lugs a classy design intention.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by bp1000

I don’t know why people keep going on about asymmetrical lugs.

Someone in a few posts above said they didn’t buy the 11 series Daytona because of the asymmetrical lugs yet they have a 14060M in their signature which has asymmetrical lugs.

Rolex did this for 50 years on most watches which crown guards and with the Daytona with pushers the difference was more obvious. They did this for balance on the wrist as there was more weight on the right side due to crown guards and pushers.

I think this shows just how much attention to detail Rolex shows when it comes to design and wearability. Watches with palladium were excluded.

Now we have standardised cases across the board. Rolex might no longer care about the utility of their watches, just getting the cost of production down and speed of the production lines having all case metals come from the same press. This point is a big one for me. Rolex is not swatch and should not be cutting corners and compromising on principles they put in place for half a century just to achieve lower cost per unit and simpler, faster production.

The asymmetry on, as you put it, "most watches with crown guards", was however minimal, whereas its significant on 16520 onwards Daytonas. Its very different.

And whilst I appreciate that some may like that Daytona design, some of us don't.

There's no right or wrong, despite what Rolex contends, it's just personal preference.

All platinum, rose gold, white gold and yellow gold on oysterflex Daytonas have always had the symmetrical case with the different lug design. A design that has existed since the first 16519s were released in the 90's.

[rlx123]

Originally Posted by milgauss2232

So definitively… does 1265 or 1165 looks like it wears smaller? I would like the smaller one as my wrist is on the small side

The 116 wears smaller.


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[Bazil]

126500 is quite a nod to the 116520 Zenith … new but vintage, so best of both worlds for some ..

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Bazil

126500 is quite a nod to the 116520 Zenith … new but vintage, so best of both worlds for some ..

Agreed, except for the symmetrical sub dials

[Bazil]

To me 126 is a homage watch, Rolex have mishmashed modern and vintage into one.
Outer metal ring a homage to very early DAYTONAS, incidentally called Le Mans, same as the thinner hour markers indices, thinner sub-dials, all a nod to vintage, I think it was clever to make the watch look bigger to the eye making the dial appear bigger.
Don’t get me wrong I do like 126, and 116, I’d have either for different reasons, I’m not all out one and one only, but I find it odd Rolex hasn’t really moved Daytona forward, they’ve gone back in time whilst updating …

[karleone]

Originally Posted by milgauss2232

So definitively… does 1265 or 1165 looks like it wears smaller? I would like the smaller one as my wrist is on the small side

126500 wears slightly bigger but with the thinner case, new case profile and more vertical lugs it’s more comfy on my wrist vs my 116500.

[watcheeze]

Originally Posted by Driver8

If it was that vital to their idea of aesthetics, IMO all 11 series models would've been asymmetric, and they would've continued it with the 12 series.

Today, we live in an era where the SDGs are being called for.

In that sense, it is quite natural that any industry needs to become more efficient. Case symmetry can be a part of efficiency.

Looking at all Rolex models in the past, it is clear that you have continued to focus on SS models. I am sure that there must be some background and behind-the-scenes reasons why "change" was required for the 60th anniversary of the Daytona.

This can be felt from Rolex's statement, "We must keep a level head, not be afraid to act, and move forward with courage.

Even if the specifications change and the model is renewed, it does not lead to a total denial of the past.

[Redsub71]

Originally Posted by Fserial

One picture…
Source: tropicalwatch.com

The old case shape, thiner and smaller. And the winner is 🤣

[kaiserphoenix]

I’m def biased as I own the 116, but I feel like the more clean and good looking one is the 126500. However the 116500 is the more quirky one with the sexier case and bolder bezel and subdials. It seems to have more character for years to come. The new reference cleans everything up and for sure looks clean now but almost too clinical now.

[hojlund]

116500 definitely, the poll result tells it all.

[karleone]

Originally Posted by hojlund

116500 definitely, the poll result tells it all.

239 votes for the 116500 that was in production for 7 years with plenty of owners here vs 234 votes fort the 126500 that has been only been there for less than a year (first ones came in October 2023 or so). Quite a strong vote for the new 126500 to be honest.

[Bazil]

Exactly .. 234 votes for a watch 230 people don’t own or have seen I would imagine, so poll says nothing in my eyes ..
I wonder how many people actually have the watch or tried it on .. so vast majority of voters are those simply looking at a picture ..
Owning both new and old, Daytona, I’m in both camps simply because both offer everything I want in a watch ..
If I could only have one, had to chose I’m now 126500 camp ..

[JRell]

Unlike the 2020 sub release, I really struggle to tell the difference. I mean I know what they are, but wouldn’t be anywhere near enough to trade for a new one if I had the old, and would obviously take the new one from my AD regardless. Both amazing watches.

[Manamana]

Originally Posted by karleone

239 votes for the 116500 that was in production for 7 years with plenty of owners here vs 234 votes fort the 126500 that has been only been there for less than a year (first ones came in October 2023 or so). Quite a strong vote for the new 126500 to be honest.

So many on the list for the new 126500 which will vote for the new 126500 because that's what they hope to get at list from AD. The numbers on the list plus the numbers who only want the newest and shiniest model from Rolex are X times more than who own the old 116500. This logic you used actually works against you.

[milgauss2232]

Originally Posted by thurualle

I'll say the 1165 wears smaller as the pushers and crown are more centrally balance vis-a-vis the watch in its entirety.

I honestly didn't even notice the asymmetrical lugs too much until i saw the back shot of both side by side. If we're just looking at the lugs alone, yes the asymmetry is quite glaring on the 116500, and very obvious if you're comparing side by side with the 126500 from the back. However, looking at the 116500 as a whole, and comparing the overall shape of both watches with pushers and crown, it is just as obvious that the assymetry serves to round off the shape of the 116500 much more compared to the 126500.

I guess there are probably the same number of people who like having the jutting pushers with symmetry as there are who prefer a more overall balance shape with asymmetrical lugs. It's a chronograph afterall, and pushers are all part of the aethetic. Personally, i find having the purposefully shaped asymmetrical lugs a classy design intention.

Originally Posted by rlx123

The 116 wears smaller.


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Originally Posted by karleone

126500 wears slightly bigger but with the thinner case, new case profile and more vertical lugs it’s more comfy on my wrist vs my 116500.

Thank you for the answers! But I read that the endlink to endlink of the 126 is slightly smaller than the 115, this making it more accommodating for smaller wrists.. is this correct?

[karleone]

Originally Posted by Manamana

So many on the list for the new 126500 which will vote for the new 126500 because that's what they hope to get at list from AD. The numbers on the list plus the numbers who only want the newest and shiniest model from Rolex are X times more than who own the old 116500. This logic you used actually works against you.

I guess you own the white 116500!

[fluffybunny]

Originally Posted by illiguy

This is interesting to me because the 12’s right side actually looks bigger than its non-crown/non-pushers left side in photos and on wrist. The asymmetric case of the 11 looks optically more balanced on the wrist to me. In fact, Rolex emphasized this clever, intentional optical illusion on the 11 series.

Agree with this.


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[rolesor2022]

Originally Posted by illiguy

I prefer the 11 series case, but I also wouldn’t call the 12’s case “ruined.” I just prefer the 116500 OG “Panda” to the 12 series.

If we were talking about the Black dial, the 12 series is my runaway winner.

In short, and as others have said, 11 in White and 12 in Black is the ideal combo in my humble opinion.

When I also think of legendary modern SS sport references, I think of:

1) 116500 (White)
2) 5711
3) 15202

1000% this. Perfectly said

[rolesor2022]

Originally Posted by karleone

239 votes for the 116500 that was in production for 7 years with plenty of owners here vs 234 votes fort the 126500 that has been only been there for less than a year (first ones came in October 2023 or so). Quite a strong vote for the new 126500 to be honest.

He can’t handle that people actually prefer the 116 white more than the 126 white. Excuses. The cope is strong in this one

[rolesor2022]

Originally Posted by Manamana

So many on the list for the new 126500 which will vote for the new 126500 because that's what they hope to get at list from AD. The numbers on the list plus the numbers who only want the newest and shiniest model from Rolex are X times more than who own the old 116500. This logic you used actually works against you.

Exactly right

[928ktgold]

Originally Posted by milgauss2232

Thank you for the answers! But I read that the endlink to endlink of the 126 is slightly smaller than the 115, this making it more accommodating for smaller wrists.. is this correct?

Yes the 126 endlink to endlink is reportedly smaller. So some on here have said it fits their smaller wrist better. I had the 116500 before and it was noticeable less wide across horizontally.
I like my 126500 better as it just has more presence to me
With me on the kids pitch

[milgauss2232]

Originally Posted by 928ktgold

Yes the 126 endlink to endlink is reportedly smaller. So some on here have said it fits their smaller wrist better. I had the 116500 before and it was noticeable less wide across horizontally.
I like my 126500 better as it just has more presence to me
With me on the kids pitch

Thank you! Nice picture it fits great on you!

[Oytun]

Originally Posted by rolesor2022

He can’t handle that people actually prefer the 116 white more than the 126 white. Excuses. The cope is strong in this one

[karleone]

We could debate over 10 more pages on which one is better, looks better ... Let’s agree to disagree!

[Redsub71]

The old case is smaller, the new case is too big, there have been many changes but the face has not changed, and it has been worse because it is less white and with scaled down graphics, that’s the problem. Change your face and you've got a Le Mans, that's the solution. Marketing can't always win, this time, for the time being, it has lost.

[Manamana]

Originally Posted by karleone

I guess you own the white 116500!

Of Course I do, and if Rolex introduces a better model than the 116500 Panda I would go for it.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Manamana

So many on the list for the new 126500 which will vote for the new 126500 because that's what they hope to get at list from AD. The numbers on the list plus the numbers who only want the newest and shiniest model from Rolex are X times more than who own the old 116500. This logic you used actually works against you.

So many assumptions in your post here.

Is it so hard for you (a 116 owner) to accept that many people may actually prefer the aesthetics of the new one? I do. By some margin.

The question was : "you can only pick one, which do you take?"

Availability is irrelevant in that question. Are you perhaps seeking to promote an answer to a question that was not actually asked, simply to support your ownership position?

Its all personal preference. There is no right or wrong answer. If you prefer yours, that's all that matters. There's no need to try and discredit the results just because they don't fit your narrative.

As it stands, the poll is pretty much 50:50.

Maybe that's because opinion is just split in that ratio