Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1999 Reference No: 16520 Case No: A928’773 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, reference 78390A, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp, reference 78390A, AB3 Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex punched Guarantee signed by Herbert Mayer, Augsburg and dated August 2000, green leather presentation box, International Service Guarantee dated 27 May, 2015, Rolex hang tags, green leather envelope, product literature and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
Rolex surprised the public at the 1988 Basel Fair by introducing the first self-winding chronograph model in its history. The newly launched reference 16520 was powered by a derivative of Zenith's El Primero caliber, though substantially modified by Rolex. It was the first Daytona to be equipped with a sapphire crystal and upgraded to a new larger diameter of 40mm.
The launch of the 16520 was an immediate success, resulting in unprecedented demand that would require clients to have to wait as long as seven years to purchase one.
The present example is known as the "A Series". Produced one year before the reference ceased production, it is today one of the most sought-after variants of reference 16520, marking the end of an era for that model.
Particularly versatile with its white dial, the present example is in excellent condition and is delivered full set with all appropriate box and papers.
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.