221
Rolex
Ref. 16520
Cosmograph Daytona
A rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with "tropical" registers and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$80,000 - 150,000
HK$162,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- 1997
- Reference No
- 16520
- Movement No
- 136'165
- Case No
- T858642
- Model Name
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, 4030, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel <em>Rolex Oyster </em>bracelet, 180 mm. maximum length, end links stamped 503B
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel <em>Rolex</em> folding twin lock deploying clasp stamped Rolex
- Dimensions
- 39 mm. diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed </em>
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Automatic Daytonas like their manual predecessors, can sometimes turn "tropical". The elements usually affected are the white rings of the registers which can over time turn a variety of variations from beige to chocolate. Rolex had not planned for these changes, it is rather a natural oxidization process.
This natural oxidation process affects automatic Daytonas manufactured from 1993 to 1997. The current watch falls into the last year of these "tropical" examples. The present watch is in immaculate condition, with full proportions, finishes and original green factory sticker to the case back.
This natural oxidation process affects automatic Daytonas manufactured from 1993 to 1997. The current watch falls into the last year of these "tropical" examples. The present watch is in immaculate condition, with full proportions, finishes and original green factory sticker to the case back.
Literature
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.
Browse Maker