Rolex - Phillips Watches Online Auction: The Geneva Sessions Spring 2025 Geneva Wednesday, March 5, 2025 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1994
    Reference No: 16520
    Movement No: 94'289
    Case No: W'942'150
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 33 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78390”, endlinks stamped “503 B”, max length 195mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “S8”
    Dimensions: 40mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex Guarantee, leather wallet, product literature, presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    - Unveiled in 1988, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 16520 marked a pivotal chapter in the history of the iconic Daytona collection. As the first Daytona to feature a self-winding movement, this groundbreaking reference introduced the caliber 4030, derived from the Zenith El Primero, a movement renowned for its precision and reliability. The reference 16520 also debuted a larger case design with crown guards, a bold evolution that redefined the Daytona’s aesthetic and functionality. Initially offered in stainless steel with the choice of black or white dials, the model was later complemented by luxurious gold variants featuring an array of dial designs and materials. Discontinued in 2000, the reference 16520 paved the way for its successor, the reference 116520, which introduced Rolex’s first in-house self-winding chronograph movement, the caliber 4130.

    - A resounding success from its inception, the reference 16520 has become a cornerstone of modern Rolex collecting, consistently achieving exceptional results at auction and captivating an ever-growing community of enthusiasts. The present example, a stainless steel Cosmograph Daytona reference 16520 from circa 1994, boasts the highly sought-after black dial and bears a “W” serial, denoting its production period.

    - Offered in very good overall condition, this timepiece embodies the timeless allure and technical mastery that define the Daytona legacy.

    - Please note that the paperwork for this watch indicates a white dial that was subsequently swapped for a black dial,

  • 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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Ref. 16520
An attractive and rare stainless steel automatic chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, guarantee and box

1994
40mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF18,000 - 36,000 
€18,800-37,600
$20,300-40,600

Sold for CHF22,860

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East
aghotbi@phillips.com
+41 22 317 81 81
 

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Watches Geneva
tto@phillips.com
+41 22 317 96 63
 

Phillips Watches Online Auction: The Geneva Sessions Spring 2025

5 - 12 March 2025