116520 or 116710BLNR - Collection Advice

[LeCollector]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well and healthy. I've been a long-time fan of the forums, and this is a first post for me. There are a lot of great opinions and insights here, and I hope to get some advice on an upcoming purchase.

I am nearing a life milestone and am looking to commemorate it with a watch purchase. My current collection consists of the following watches:

1. Rolex 114060
2. Rolex 116234 Silver
3. Omega Speedmaster Sapphire Sandwich (potentially outgoing)

My budget is around $15k, and will be looking at the grey market. After a lot of debate, Ive "narrowed" it down to two possible options:

1. Rolex 116710BLNR
2. Rolex 116520 (Black or White)

I generally don't like redundancy in a collection, and like to wear all my watches on rotation. That said, if I end up going the Daytona route, I would sell the Speedmaster to free up funds and keep the collection fairly minimal.

Any advice/insight/suggestion would be really appreciated. Thanks all in advance!

[cts]

116520 White.

[LOWERCASE GUY]

Tough choice, like picking your favorite child. $15k won't get you a Daytona will it?

I wouldn't want to part with the Speedmaster, it's a great piece to have in your rotation but guess it probably won't get the wrist time it deserves if you do get the Daytona. That being said, it makes sense to lose the chronograph from your collection if your replacing with another one.

Have you tried them both on? The Daytona wears a lot smaller than the GMT despite both being 40mm case sizes.

Welcome to TRF, you have an excellent collection with great variety.

Good luck with whatever you choose and keep us updated.

[LeCollector]

Originally Posted by cts

116520 White.

A beauty for sure, do you happen to have one yourself?

[LeCollector]

Originally Posted by LOWERCASE GUY

Tough choice, like picking your favorite child. $15k won't get you a Daytona will it?

I wouldn't want to part with the Speedmaster, it's a great piece to have in your rotation but guess it probably won't get the wrist time it deserves if you do get the Daytona. That being said, it makes sense to lose the chronograph from your collection if your replacing with another one.

Have you tried them both on? The Daytona wears a lot smaller than the GMT despite both being 40mm case sizes.

Welcome to TRF, you have an excellent collection with great variety.

Good luck with whatever you choose and keep us updated.

Thanks for the reply and for the warm welcome. You're right, $15k wont cut it for the Daytona but hopefully after selling the Speedmaster I'll have enough. Yes, I've tried both on but the Daytona was some time ago so I have definitely forgotten what the watch feels like. Do you have a preference on dial?

[LOWERCASE GUY]

Originally Posted by LeCollector

Thanks for the reply and for the warm welcome. You're right, $15k wont cut it for the Daytona but hopefully after selling the Speedmaster I'll have enough. Yes, I've tried both on but the Daytona was some time ago so I have definitely forgotten what the watch feels like. Do you have a preference on dial?

Yeah, i much prefer the white dial on the Daytona but they are harder to find and usually a little more expensive. You already have a black dial sub too & variety is the spice of life.

One other thing of note is white dials, in general, wear bigger than their case size suggests, or black dials wear smaller, i'm not sure which is which. With the Daytona wearing quite small for a 40mm I feel the white dial would help to compensate this.

[LeCollector]

Originally Posted by LOWERCASE GUY

Yeah, i much prefer the white dial on the Daytona but they are harder to find and usually a little more expensive. You already have a black dial sub too & variety is the spice of life.

One other thing of note is white dials, in general, wear bigger than their case size suggests, or black dials wear smaller, i'm not sure which is which. With the Daytona wearing quite small for a 40mm I feel the white dial would help to compensate this.

Ah that makes sense, all valid points. Appreciate the input!

[Napoleon]

Keep the speedy and go BLNR. Nice to have a GMT complication in the rotation.

[jeffgo888]

GMT


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[LeCollector]

Originally Posted by Napoleon

Keep the speedy and go BLNR. Nice to have a GMT complication in the rotation.

Somewhat leaning towards this as well, really like the speedy. Appreciate the reply

[denmanproject]

I think the sub and GMT are too similar IMO so I'd go Daytona

[Vinnee]

Plus one for the GMT

[Ntoz]

I would probably go with a Daytona

[Napoleon]

Oh and because every thread needs a pic...

[904VT]

Gosh I love both of these watches. The original BLNR is the first bi-color ceramic bezel in the world. But imho nothing in SS compares to the 116520-white....not even the newer 116500LNs. It is the only 6 digit Rolex (applies to all 116520) outside maybe a YM40 that has the feel of both a 5 digit and 6 digit both.

[wb55]

As a BLNR owner I would go for the white ceramic Daytona but I'm not sure you can get one for that money unless you know something we don't. Also, depends on your wrist size.

[Nikrnic]

BLNR All the way for me. I know, I'm biased.

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[Kube]

If you equally desire both, go for the BLNR as you will be paying more for the Daytona and since you already have a chronograph, a GMT would make a nice addition. However, if you prefer the Daytona, you can't go wrong. It seems like you are already on the fence about keeping your Speedy, and flipping it towards a Daytona would make sense.

[Easy E]

I could never recommend a Daytona, one of the least legible watches I’ve ever owned. I couldn’t get rid of mine fast enough. BLNR all day, everyday in this case.

[jeffgo888]

Originally Posted by Napoleon

Oh and because every thread needs a pic...

The Batman is one of the few watches I see here besides the Bluesy and deep sea that photographs really really reallly well lol


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[JohnnyM]

Daytona ALL DAY. The blue black batman is a fad and will fizzle away with time, like the vintage inspired craze.

I'd rather have an LN GMT if a GMT is what you want. That's an iconic watch for the ages.

The Daytona is the most iconic Rolex, if you are in to that, then get a Daytona.

[LeCollector]

Wow, stunning photos!

[1665fan]

116520

[DiamondSt]

116520 white

[LeCollector]

Originally Posted by Kube

If you equally desire both, go for the BLNR as you will be paying more for the Daytona and since you already have a chronograph, a GMT would make a nice addition. However, if you prefer the Daytona, you can't go wrong. It seems like you are already on the fence about keeping your Speedy, and flipping it towards a Daytona would make sense.

So torn between the two, both are stunning. Appreciate the advice though

[beshannon]

I own both and love both

[Heff]

Originally Posted by JohnnyM

Daytona ALL DAY. The blue black batman is a fad and will fizzle away with time, like the vintage inspired craze.

I'd rather have an LN GMT if a GMT is what you want. That's an iconic watch for the ages.

The Daytona is the most iconic Rolex, if you are in to that, then get a Daytona.

Fad? Like how the Pepsi and Coke has been a fad for over 60 years? Seems they are still very popular. I see more of them then the all black bezel GMT.

And I would argue that the Sub or DayDate are likely the most iconic of Rolex.


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[Wobbly]

I sold my 116520 in white, it wore too small and with older eyes, it’s sometimes difficult to read.

I will be keeping my BLNR, it’s a beautiful piece, the blue on the bezel really stands out, but not in a cheap way.

[synrrgy]

It's a good choice to have. With the watches you have in your collection, I'd go with the Daytona 116520 (especially if you plan to sell the Speedmaster). It's timeless and definitely one of those watches that look even better in person.

Good luck with your decision!

[ecdc]

Originally Posted by LeCollector

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well and healthy. I've been a long-time fan of the forums, and this is a first post for me. There are a lot of great opinions and insights here, and I hope to get some advice on an upcoming purchase.

I am nearing a life milestone and am looking to commemorate it with a watch purchase. My current collection consists of the following watches:

1. Rolex 114060
2. Rolex 116234 Silver
3. Omega Speedmaster Sapphire Sandwich (potentially outgoing)

My budget is around $15k, and will be looking at the grey market. After a lot of debate, Ive "narrowed" it down to two possible options:

1. Rolex 116710BLNR
2. Rolex 116520 (Black or White)

I generally don't like redundancy in a collection, and like to wear all my watches on rotation. That said, if I end up going the Daytona route, I would sell the Speedmaster to free up funds and keep the collection fairly minimal.

Any advice/insight/suggestion would be really appreciated. Thanks all in advance!

116520 black was my choice. I was lucky enough to get mine new from an AD in 2015. If shopping for a 116520 at this point, you want one preferably as late in production as possible; and you definitely want the latest clasp and the blue lume is better, too.

But which complication would you use more? I use my Daytona's chrono all the time. I'd use a GMT, well, never. I can add +5 or -6 or whatever (i.e., to/from Europe) or +/- 12 (i.e., China, elsewhere in SE Asia). It's not a big deal or terribly hard to do on any watch -- Daytona included -- but I can't use a GMT to time minutes or hours easily. Hence, I chose a Daytona when I could get whatever I wanted at retail.