Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 2004 Reference No: 116509 Movement No: CO'138'570 Case No: F'698'181 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K white gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex twinlock folding deployant clasp Dimensions: 39mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Catalogue Essay
Subtly unassuming and heavy, this Cosmograph Daytona is cased in white gold, which provides a luxurious touch to the tool watch. The black dial is furthermore designed with Arabic numerals and red accents throughout which gives the watch a sporty appearance.
Reference 116509 is powered by the automatic caliber 4130, which is also used in reference 116520. Unveiled in 2000, this is Rolex's first in-house chronograph movement.
The present watch is furthermore preserved in unpolished and excellent condition with sharp hallmarks beneath the lugs and a crisp milled finish to the case back. The bezel is particularly sharp, showing a crisp facet on the rim, attesting to its untouched condition. One can thus conclude the watch was worn a handful of times only.
Founded 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.