Watch Paparazzi

Model Alice Basso spotted wearing Rolex

Italian model Alice Basso has been spotted on social media wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116500LN in Oystersteel, fitted with the white 'panda' dial — a combination that has consistently commanded the longest waiting lists and the steepest grey-market premiums since the reference launched nearly a decade ago.

Introduced at Baselworld 2016, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN represented the most significant update to the Daytona line in over a decade. The standout addition was a monobloc Cerachrom bezel in black ceramic, replacing the previously aluminium insert and offering dramatically improved scratch and UV resistance. The 40mm Oystersteel case houses Rolex's proprietary calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch that ensures clean, jump-free chronograph engagement. Its 72-hour power reserve and ease of servicing have earned it near-universal praise from watchmakers and enthusiasts alike.

From a collector standpoint, the white dial 116500LN — the so-called 'panda' configuration, with its contrasting white subsidiary registers — is widely regarded as the more desirable of the two dial options. The combination of the ceramic bezel, the legible white dial, and the proven 4130 movement created a reference that simultaneously appealed to serious collectors and first-time luxury watch buyers. Waiting times at authorised dealers stretching to several years became the norm almost immediately after launch, cementing the 116500LN's status as a modern classic before it was even widely available.

Alice Basso, one of Italy's prominent faces in fashion and lifestyle media, wears the Daytona with the ease of someone well acquainted with fine watchmaking. The choice of the white dial variant over the black speaks to an understanding of collector nuance — this is not simply a status piece but a considered selection within the reference.

On the secondary market, the white dial Rolex Daytona 116500LN continues to trade well above its official retail price. The reference has since been succeeded by the updated ref. 126500LN, which may gradually influence grey-market dynamics for the 116500LN, though demand remains robust. Collectors and newcomers alike continue to view the 116500LN as a defining Rolex of its era.