163
Rolex
Ref. 116508
Cosmograph Daytona “John Mayer”
A highly sought after, attractive, and well-preserved yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, green dial, guarantee, and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
• Discontinued model, complete set
• Case-back, top crown guard, and clasp stickered
The Rolex Daytona reference 116508 was introduced at Baselworld 2016, marking the first time the brand paired its yellow gold case with a distinctive emerald green dial. This iconic combination quickly captured attention for its bold aesthetic and became especially coveted after musician John Mayer publicly endorsed it, elevating the watch to pop culture status and solidifying its reputation as a symbol of luxury and taste.
The dial, described as vert foncé, features rich green tones with red accents. It is a clever design that visually balances the closely spaced subdials using bold chapter rings. Housed in an 18K yellow gold case, the watch is powered by Rolex’s in-house calibre 4130, a robust and reliable automatic chronograph movement known for its precision and durability.
Discontinued since 2023, the present example is offered by a meticulous collector preserved in excellent condition, with protective stickers still applied on the case-back, clasp, and top crown guard. Accompanied by its original guarantee and presentation box, it presents a rare opportunity to own a discontinued and highly sought-after modern classic from Rolex’s Daytona lineage in an outstanding state of preservation.
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.