148
Rolex
Ref. 16520
Cosmograph Daytona "New-Old-Stock"
A “new-old-stock” and factory stickered stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, white dial, guarantee, hang tags, and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
• “New Old Stock”, unworn example
• Fresh-to-the-market
• Complete set
Rolex’s Cosmograph Daytona is one of the most iconic and cherished wristwatches for collectors today, and its evolution is legendary. Over its nearly 70-year lifespan, it has become revered for its timeless design, durability, and wearability. First released in 1988, the Cosmograph Daytona reference 16520 was the firm’s first Daytona model to feature a self-winding caliber. The reliable Zenith El Primero, considered as one of the best self-winding chronograph movements at the time, was chosen as the base which Rolex further upgraded to achieve their remarkable caliber 4030.
The present “A-series” dating to 1998 is a time capsule of the Daytona Cosmograph. Fresh to-the-market, the watch has remained unused for the past 28 years with its factory case back sticker crisp and without any blemishes. The case proportions are “factory fresh” with the original finish perfectly preserved. Highlighted by the exceptional white dial, it is a wonderful representation of the modern aesthetic of 20th century Rolex chronographs.
This chronograph is an exceptional example for the connoisseur and is accompanied by its complete set of accessories including warranty, presentation box, and hang tags. Today it is one of the most popular Daytona references, combining a modern 40mm case with vintage charm and eternal practicality.
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.