The Rolex Daytona 116500LN is a 40mm stainless steel chronograph that Rolex sold from 2016 to 2023. Replicas of it copy the case shape, the black ceramic bezel, and the dial layout. A high-grade replica costs $450 to $800. A low-grade one costs $80 to $200. Neither is a Rolex watch. Rolex will not service them, they carry no factory warranty, and they have no collector resale value.
Genuine 116500LN specs
- Reference: 116500LN, launched at Baselworld 2016 as the replacement for the 116520
- Case: 40mm Oystersteel, screw-down crown and screw-down chronograph pushers
- Bezel: black Cerachrom ceramic with a tachymeter scale
- Dial: white "Panda" or black, three counters
- Counters: small seconds at 6 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 3, 12-hour counter at 9
- Movement: caliber 4130, automatic, column wheel and vertical clutch
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Crystal: sapphire
- Case thickness: about 12.5mm
- Lug width: 20mm
- US retail at discontinuation in 2023: about $13,150
The white dial sold above retail for most of the production run. The black dial traded closer to retail. The 116500LN gave way to the 126500LN in 2023. That newer reference uses caliber 4131 and a slimmer case profile.
What replica versions copy
Most replicas match the 40mm case width and the 20mm lug width. Better versions use a ceramic bezel insert with a printed tachymeter scale, a screw-down crown, and pushers that start, stop, and reset the chronograph. Dial printing on the best copies holds sharp edges on the text and the coronet. Subdial spacing is the weak point on cheaper builds.
Replica movement tiers
- Asian 7750 or 7753: case height 14mm and up, no small seconds at 6 on some builds, common under $200
- Shanghai 4130: close to factory height, working chronograph, power reserve near 50 hours
- Dandong SL-4130: closest case height of the three, correct 3-6-9 counter layout, power reserve near 60 hours
None of these movements use Rolex parts. They use Chinese-made springs, jewels, wheel trains, and rotors. Service parts are scarce, so a failed movement often means a full swap rather than a repair.
Price tiers in the replica market
- $80 to $200: mineral glass, plated cases, some units with dead subdials
- $250 to $450: sapphire crystal, 316L steel, working chronograph, softer bezel engraving
- $450 to $800: ceramic bezel insert, 904L steel claims, tighter dial print, closer case profile
Checks before you buy
- Ask for the movement model and the measured case thickness. The genuine watch is 12.5mm. A 7750 build runs 14mm or more.
- Confirm the chronograph resets to zero at 12 o'clock.
- Check counter spacing at 3, 6, and 9. A 7750 movement pushes the spacing wide.
- Ask for photos of the crown and pushers. Threads should look clean and engage without grit.
- Get the water resistance claim from the seller in writing. Most replicas are not pressure tested.
- Ask for the serial on the rehaut and the caseback. Matching numbers help you compare one unit to another.
Legal notes in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods violates 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison. Federal felony fines for an individual reach $250,000. Customs and Border Protection can seize a replica watch at import and the shipment can be forfeited. This site does not sell genuine Rolex products and does not claim any link to Rolex SA. A used genuine 116500LN ran about $23,000 to $32,000 on the secondary market in 2025, with the white dial at the top of that range.