Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1998 Reference No: 16519 Case No: U'412'683 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K white gold, diamonds and mother-of-pearl Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex deployant buckle Dimensions: 39.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated July 1, 1999, numbered hang tag, product literature, presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
Preserved in "new old stock" condition, the present watch is in nearly the exact condition in which it left the Rolex factory over twenty years ago. Not only does the case back retain its original sticker, the watch is preserved in pristine condition. Furthermore, it is accompanied by its original documents such as original guarantee, numbered hang tag, presentation box and outer packaging.
Most notably, the present watch is fitted with a Zenith-based automatic movement - among the very last of its kind when Rolex decided to switch to a in-house chronograph movement starting from the year 2000. A pre-cursor to the beloved "Beach" series, it shows how Rolex always experimented with color and design, imagining fanciful and pleasing creations.
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. 16519 A highly rare and extremely attractive "new old stock" white gold and diamond-set chronograph wristwatch with mother-of-pearl dial, caseback sticker, guarantee and presentation box
Circa 1998 39.5mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
