Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII Geneva Saturday, May 8, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 2000
    Reference No: 116520
    Movement No: C0'025'853
    Case No: P'740'048
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 210mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex punched Guarantee, product literature, outer packaging and fitted presentation box. Further accompanied by a copy of Daytona Self-Winding, by Franca and Guido Mondani.
    Literature: This exact example, bearing the serial number P'740'048, is illustrated in Franca and Guido Mondani’s Daytona Self-Winding, pp. 186-187.

  • Catalogue Essay

    First introduced in the early 1960s via the ref. 6239, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was born amidst the golden era for chronograph timepieces inspired by the world of automobile racing. Launched in 2000, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520 was the firm’s first to feature an in-house self-winding chronograph cal. 4130, replacing its former ref. 16520 powered by the Zenith El Primero cal. 4030. The new model featured subtle changes to the case and dial such as polished and slender lugs and a subtle switch of the hour registers and seconds register.

    Examples fitted with a white dial manufactured between 2000 – 2002 often have a common trait of naturally developing a “cream dial” due to the nature of its material. The present example bearing a P serial belongs to the first series of the reference manufactured, in excellent overall condition the timepiece features a Mark I dial and is starting to showcase a slight and pleasant variation of color change on the dial to cream. Extremely sought after in today’s market, this present example of an early Rolex ref. 116520 with its original Rolex punched Guarantee is a must have for any true Rolex collector.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    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.

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138

Ref. 116520
A highly rare and attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with "Semi-Panna" dial, bracelet, presentation box and outer packaging

Circa 2000
40mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF20,000 - 40,000 
€18,100-36,300
$21,800-43,600

Sold for CHF44,100

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

 

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII

Geneva Auction 8 - 9 May 2021