ROLEX COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA WITH CERAMIC BEZEL REF:116500LN

Here is it... Finally a review of a piece that I decided to be the one to end my game... If you can even call it a game...

After a 13 month wait and wearing it daily since the day I got it... it's time for a complete review.

After spending a couple of years collecting watches, meeting great friends with similar interests and learning about horology in general... 

It reaches a certain point where you just want something reliable, bulletproof built quality but with finesse, a little history thrown in, brand cache, a daily wearable watch with as little or no problems with ownership experience.

Based on all those criteria, the 2016 launched Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ceramic Ref:116500LN ticks all the boxes for me.

I chose the white dial as it has the better looking black surround on the subdials which I feel is a better overall look.

The black cerachrome (Rolex speak for ceramic) is just awesome.

Precision laser cut etchings filled with platinum dust exudes quality as you would have expect from Rolex.

5 lines of text greet you on the top dial... some find it too much, some don't... and this is not including the red "DAYTONA" lettering on the bottom of the dial.

As with any new Rolex that is now subjected to in house testing to +2/-2 standards and a 10 year service interval with 5 year warranty, this is as good as it gets if you want to own a watch with a peace of mind.

My experience with the accuracy can be summed up with 1 word... OUTSTANDING... I sync my watches with exact reference to the atomic time and so far... it has been a few seconds fast.

I am glad Rolex did not "supersize" the case into the maxi case style now seen with Submariners and GMT Masters.

It still retains the svelte lugs which makes the watch abit more classy and refined rather than blocky.

The Oyster bracelet is polished on the centre links.

Some don't really like it as it scratches pretty easily.

It doesn't bother me though.

Although scratched, it still keeps it's shine from a distance.

It's not like I scrutinize every part of the watch all the time.

Just wear it and forget about it. It will still look good.

I am not one to baby my watches.

After experiencing countless bracelets and clasps from many brands, I still place Rolex bracelets and their Oysterlock clasp as the best.

Best in an engineering standpoint and also user friendliness and durability.

Construction and execution is simply flawless. No sharp edges or protruding buttons, all smooth to the touch.

One of my pet peeve with older Rolexes or watches from other brands is the inability to centralize the clasp especially for smaller wrists.

6 digit references now provide enough adjustments to make it just perfect.

Owners of 5 digit references and small wrists will know exactly what I mean.

As with most if not all Rolex watches, the caseback is left plain.

Good if you want to engrave something on it to make the ownership of the watch memorable to a certain occasion.

But make no mistake the Caliber 4130 behind the caseback is a one the best chronograph movements ever made.

The flatter caseback is one of the reasons I like this watch when it sits on the wrist.

It's also one the reasons of my fondness for the GMT Master II over the Submariner.

Legibility is no issue on the white dial model for me.

The hands provide enough contrast to make telling the time a breeze.

Another pet peeve of mine is the the alignment of the minute hand have to sync with the markers after the seconds hand makes a complete round.

I am glad to report that after wearing this from day 1, all the hands are still aligned just as I like them to be.

One small detail to clarify.

Although Rolex advertised this watch as being 40mm in width.

I measured it myself and bezel to bezel from 9-3, it's actually 38.6mm.

I always wondered why the Daytona always wears smaller in comparison to similar 40mm watches like the Submariner and the GMT Master II... at 1st I thought it was the maxi case that makes the difference (well it did in terms of visual impact) but the real reasons is the case does measure smaller.

Not that it bothers me anyway.

On the wrist, it just feels at home.

I love how the slimmer lugs just works with this model.

It makes the watch less squarish... more elegant and sublime in it's appearance.

Well, I have been indulging in watches since 2009 starting with a Tissot and slowly moving up til Rolex and up to Audemars Piguet.

Didn't have a taste for Patek, could not afford a Lange Datograph or any Richard Mille or more high end horology brand.

And now I have turned back to Rolex as my end game piece.

Why?

Although many have told me it's what most will do at one point or another. I didn't believe them.

But then... Here I am...

The whole experience have been fulfilling and rewarding in it's own way.

One thing for certain is that... Life already presents enough problems for one to handle... I don't need my watch to be one of the problem.

So, a Rolex is almost guaranteed to be problem free.

And THAT my friends... Is the peace of mind this RM48,130 (at the time of this post) watch provides you... and so much more....