Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1996 Reference No: 16520 Movement No: 105'204 Case No: W942015 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 205mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex Guarantee dated May 18, 1996, numbered hang tag, product literature, presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
Released in 1988, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref.16520 was the firm’s first Daytona model to feature a self-winding caliber. Housing the reliable Zenith El Primero based cal. 4030, it was considered one of the best self-winding chronograph movements at the time. Twelve years later, it would be discontinued to be replaced by the ref. 116520 featuring Rolex’s own in-house self-winding chronograph movement cal. 4130. Being part of this rare and highly thought-after Zenith movement family, the present timepiece has more than one trick up its sleeve.
Bearing a “W” serial number from circa 1995, the watch falls into the rare batch of “tropical” dials. Its three registers have turned to a beautiful rich and chestnut brown colour. The type of lacquer applied during the manufacturing process has aged over time, and contributed to the unique “tropicalization” of certain S, T and W serial Daytonas' subsidiary dials, with W series being the "sweet spot" for tropical effects. Extremely rare as these imperfections are natural occurrences, such even and richly saturated colours extremely are desirable and scarce.
Further enhancing this prized Daytona, the watch is preserved in most probably unpolished condition with the bezel protector, the sticker on the caseback still intact, as well as the sticker on the clasp. The watch is offered in most complete condition, with the original numbered hang tag present, along with the guarantee stating the watch was sold at Swansea Goldsmiths, product literature and presentation box. To find a reference 16520 with this particular dial, in such marvelous and untouched condition, along with original accessories is an incredibly rare occurrence.
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.
Ref. 16520 A highly rare and attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with chestnut "tropical" registers, caseback sticker, hang tag, guarantee and presentation box
Circa 1996 40mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed