Short answer
The number 116516 does not appear in Rolex's published Cosmograph Daytona catalog. Sellers use it as a label for a 40 mm Daytona chronograph with three subdials. Treat it as a description, not a factory reference. Compare any watch sold under this number against the closest real references: 116500LN for steel with a black ceramic bezel, 116520 for steel with a steel bezel, 116503 for two-tone steel and gold, and 116518LN for yellow gold on a rubber strap.
What sellers mean by 116516
In the replica market the digits sit between the 116500 series and the 116520 series. Some sellers use 116516 for a steel case with a ceramic bezel. Others use it for steel and gold. Ask the seller three questions: case material, bezel material, and movement model. A listing that answers none of these is a listing with no QC data behind it.
Specs to compare
- Case diameter: 40 mm on the genuine watch.
- Case thickness: about 12.4 mm on the steel ceramic model.
- Lug width: 20 mm, so a 20 mm strap or bracelet fits.
- Bracelet weight: about 140 g for a full steel Oyster bracelet.
- Subdials: running seconds at 9 o'clock, 30 minute counter at 3 o'clock, 12 hour counter at 6 o'clock.
- Bezel: tachymeter scale, 400 units per hour. Genuine 116500LN uses a Cerachrom ceramic insert.
- Caseback: solid steel. A sapphire display back means the watch is a replica or a modified case.
- Water resistance: 100 m on the genuine watch. Replica gaskets are not tested to that rating.
Movement types
Three movement families appear in Daytona replicas. Quartz chronographs cost the least. The seconds hand steps once per second, and the subdials often work as decoration. Modified 7750 movements run at 28,800 vph with 42 to 48 hours of power reserve. The 7750 has a different subdial layout, so builders use a conversion plate. Chinese clone 4130 movements run at 28,800 vph, use a column wheel and vertical clutch, and claim 72 hours of power reserve. Sellers quote accuracy of plus or minus 10 to 20 seconds per day. Sample variance is the real number to worry about. Ask for a photo of the movement with the caseback off.
Price bands
- Quartz: about $40 to $120.
- 7750 based: about $150 to $350.
- Clone 4130: about $380 to $900.
These are observed ranges, not fixed prices. A seller who charges clone 4130 money for a quartz watch is the main risk in this category.
Checks before you pay
- Ask for the movement name and a movement photo.
- Ask for a weight in grams.
- Check subdial positions against the list above.
- Check pusher threads. Screw down pushers are correct on the genuine watch.
- Ask about the return window in writing.
- Confirm the payment method allows a chargeback.
Legal note for US buyers
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. CBP seizes counterfeit watch shipments at US ports. A seized parcel is not refunded by the carrier. Resale of a replica carrying the Rolex name creates separate trademark exposure. This applies to watches described as 1:1, mirror grade, or Swiss made.