Rolex - Phillips & Blackbird: SPORTS Hong Kong Sunday, May 26, 2019 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1990
    Reference No: 16520, case back stamped 16500
    Case No: L244’658
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona, "4 Liner"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped 78360, endlinks stamped 503, max length 190 mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped N4 & 78360
    Dimensions: 39 mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped by Oeding-Erdel punched with matching numbers, product literature, green presentation box and outer packaging

  • Catalogue Essay

    Housing a “Mark II” black dial, the present lot was made two years after reference 16520 was introduced. The present lot is fitted with a highly attractive and uncommon “Mark II” black dial in excellent condition. There are several characteristics that make the “Mark II” widely revered nowadays. First of all, the dial configuration was only made for a limited period of time and fitted on very few early L serial 16520 Daytonas, making it an extremely scarce configuration to own. Additionally, the lettering “Officially Certified” is left out of the dial, a trait that distinguishes this dial from the previous Mark I design.

    Most noticeably, the "Cosmograph" designation is now together with the rest of the writing on the top of the dial, different from the earlier “floating cosmograph” design. The subsidiary dials contain the same characteristics as the Mark I dial, such as the upside down "6" digit on the lower subsidiary register. The present watch is fitted with a “Mark II” bezel, with scale up to 400 units/hour with measurements at intervals of 1 unit up to 100 and intermediate at 225 and 250, which is period correct for the L serial. This watch has been preserved in excellent condition with full proportions and a crisp case, with its original caseback sticker still retained.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

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851

Ref. 16520, case back stamped 16500
A fine and extremely rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, guarantee and presentation box

Circa 1990
39 mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
HK$200,000 - 280,000 
€23,000-32,200
$25,000-35,000

Sold for HK$687,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
thomasperazzi@phillips.com
+852 2318 2001
 

Phillips & Blackbird: SPORTS

Hong Kong Auction 27 May 2019