Released in 1988, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 16520 marks a new milestone for the firm by being the very first model to feature a self-winding caliber based on the famous Zenith El Primero movement as well as an entirely new case design from its manually wound ancestors. A tremendous success, the model had more than a decade of production run and was discontinued in 2000 to make way of Rolex’s first ever in-house chronograph calibre 4130 with the reference 116520.

Growing in demand, the Cosmograph Daytona’s evergreen modern design has garnered the attention from vintage collectors all around the globe, and have become on the most sought after sports watch. Iconic in its status and part of the last configurations of the reference, the present example of ref. 16520 bears an A serial from circa 2000. Produced close to the end of its production, the present specimen is preserved in excellent condition with its original green caseback sticker still intact. Furthermore, it is accompanied by its original guarantee and presentation box, making this a highly collectable chronograph from the era.