This replica Daytona 116520 in black delivers the all-steel Cosmograph in its most recognizable configuration. The 40mm Oystersteel case sits on a matching Oyster bracelet, with a black dial providing maximum contrast against the luminous hour markers and chronograph registers. Reference 116520 was the last steel Daytona before the ceramic bezel era began with the 116500LN, and it remains one of the most collected Cosmograph references.

Case & Movement Specs

• Case diameter: 40mm
• Case material: Oystersteel (stainless steel)
• Dial color: black
• Bracelet: Oyster, stainless steel
• Crystal: sapphire
• Water resistance: 30m
• Movement: automatic (Japanese/Swiss)

The steel tachymeter bezel on the 116520 differs from the ceramic Cerachrom unit on newer references, giving it a distinct vintage-adjacent character within the current Daytona landscape.

Caliber Performance

Automatic chronograph movement drives the three subdials through a centrally mounted seconds hand for timing. The black dial variant benefits from strong lume contrast, with applied indices glowing against the dark background. Rolex produced the 116520 from 2000 to 2016, making it a transitional reference between the manual-wind Zenith era and the in-house ceramic era. For the predecessor to this steel Cosmograph, see the 126515LN to compare steel vs precious metal approaches. Browse all available Cosmograph references in our Daytona collection.

How It Compares

The 116520 black occupies a specific collector niche: all-steel, no ceramic, pre-2016 case design. It wears thinner than the 116500LN and carries a steel bezel that catches light differently than Cerachrom. This replica Daytona 116520 black appeals to those who prefer the pre-ceramic Cosmograph aesthetic and the clean simplicity of a steel-on-steel configuration.