Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1991 Reference No: 16528 Movement No: 17'815 Case No: N'266'805 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona "Inverted 6" Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex folding deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex Guarantee, product literature, wallet and invoice.
Catalogue Essay
This attractive yellow gold Zenith Daytona is fitted with a black "inverted 6" dial that displays 5 lines of text at 12 o'clock. Today, correct "inverted 6" dials are particularly popular among Rolex collectors, due to their rarity. Research shows that this configuration was only produced from 1991 to 1993.
Reference 16528 is the yellow gold counterpart to stainless steel reference 16520. The first self-winding chronograph introduced in the brand’s history, it clearly marked the beginning of the Daytona's "modern" production phase. Furthermore, unlike reference 6263 or 6265, it incorporated a sapphire crystal.
The watch is furthermore preserved in very attractive condition with sharp finishes to the top of the lugs and a crisp milled finish to the case back. It is accompanied by its Rolex Guarantee, product literature and invoice.
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.
