18Σ
Rolex
Ref. 16518 "Le Roi Soleil"
Cosmograph Daytona
An attractive and most probably unique yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with retailer code on the lug and clasp, retailed by Van Cleef & Arpels
- Estimate
- CHF50,000 - 100,000
CHF187,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1991
- Reference No
- 16518 "Le Roi Soleil"
- Movement No
- 64’667
- Case No
- N’436’333
- Model Name
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Alligator
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp stamped with retailer code
- Dimensions
- 39.5mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed, underside of the lug and clasp stamped with retailer code
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Rolex warranty, numbered sales tag and box. Also delivered with Van Cleef & Arpels original Invoice, Attestation of Origin and correspondence letters with Rolex and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The king of automatic wristwatches, this most certainly unique reference 16518 was made upon special order by the legendary jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. Featuring a visually arresting “V.C.&A.” signature on the dial, it is to the best of our knowledge, the only one of its kind. The jeweler’s internal code 7H364-5 is punched on the underside of the lug. This code is also repeated on the inside of the deployant clasp.
Equally impressive is the meticulous documentation that chronicles this Daytona’s provenance. Not only accompanied by a numbered sales tag and Rolex warranty confirming the White Arabic dial and sale at Van Cleef & Arpels Inc, it also comes with the Van Cleef & Arpels original Invoice dated May 26, 1995 and Attestation of Origin confirming that the jeweler produced “VCA N436333 7H364-5” in their atelier with authorization from Rolex.
What is important here is Rolex’s recognition and permission of the third party’s stamping of the dial.
Lest there be any doubt regarding the originality of the watch presented here, correspondence between the client, Rolex and Van Cleef & Arpels is also offered, recounting the timepiece’s journey.
Equally impressive is the meticulous documentation that chronicles this Daytona’s provenance. Not only accompanied by a numbered sales tag and Rolex warranty confirming the White Arabic dial and sale at Van Cleef & Arpels Inc, it also comes with the Van Cleef & Arpels original Invoice dated May 26, 1995 and Attestation of Origin confirming that the jeweler produced “VCA N436333 7H364-5” in their atelier with authorization from Rolex.
What is important here is Rolex’s recognition and permission of the third party’s stamping of the dial.
Lest there be any doubt regarding the originality of the watch presented here, correspondence between the client, Rolex and Van Cleef & Arpels is also offered, recounting the timepiece’s journey.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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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