8086
Rolex
Ref. 16520
Cosmograph Daytona
A very attractive and well-preserved stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with "tropical" registers, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$160,000 - 300,000€18,400 - 34,500$20,500 - 38,500
HK$241,300
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1996
- Reference No
- 16520
- Movement No
- 118’731
- Case No
- T746’213, inside caseback stamped “16500”
- Model Name
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78390”, endlinks stamped “503B”, max length 200mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “78390, Z1”
- Dimensions
- 40mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Rolex warranty stamped Carlyle & Co. U.S.A. dated 8th September 1997, green card holder, 1995-1996 calendar, instruction manual, product literature, hang tag, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
- The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 16520 holds a significant place in Rolex's history as the firm's first Daytona model to feature a self-winding movement. Prior to bringing the caliber in-house in 2000, the 16520 was powered by the reliable Zenith El Primero based caliber 4030.
- The present timepiece, bearing a "T" serial number from around 1996, falls into the rare batch of "tropical" dialed Daytonas. Over time, the organic Zapon varnish used by Rolex to protect the subsidiary dials has reacted to ultraviolet rays and oxygen, causing the silver registers to oxidize and turn a beautiful brown color. This unintentional "tropicalization" of the dial is an extremely desirable and scarce feature, as these natural color changes are highly prized by collectors.
- A very well-preserved example, it is being offered complete with its original box and certificate, making it an exceptional find for discerning collectors seeking a rare and significant Rolex Daytona.
- The present timepiece, bearing a "T" serial number from around 1996, falls into the rare batch of "tropical" dialed Daytonas. Over time, the organic Zapon varnish used by Rolex to protect the subsidiary dials has reacted to ultraviolet rays and oxygen, causing the silver registers to oxidize and turn a beautiful brown color. This unintentional "tropicalization" of the dial is an extremely desirable and scarce feature, as these natural color changes are highly prized by collectors.
- A very well-preserved example, it is being offered complete with its original box and certificate, making it an exceptional find for discerning collectors seeking a rare and significant Rolex Daytona.
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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