146
Rolex
Ref. 16520
Cosmograph Daytona
A rare and attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with slightly "tropical" registers, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
- Estimate
- CHF15,000 - 30,000€15,300 - 30,700$16,400 - 32,800
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1995
- Reference No
- 16520
- Movement No
- 89071
- Case No
- W702066
- 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 March 1996 from Bucherer Lucerne, Rolex service guarantee and presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
With that said, even though the Zenith Daytona Cosmograph dazzles in its entirety, some stars shine brighter than the rest - such as the famed tropical dials, whose white chapter rings tend to darken over time due to a defect in some specific batches of paint. These dials are usually found on S,N, T and W serial numbers (watches made between circa 1993 and 1996), thus just a small part of the production of ref. 16520, however, adding to their rarity, not all watches produced during this time range eventually develop tropical chapter rings. Since the discovery of this particularity in 2005, the fame and appeal of these watches have never stopped growing.
The present example Cosmograph Daytona from circa 1995 bearing a “W” serial is offered with its full set of accessories and in very honest overall condition. The uniform tropicalization of the registers is at the moment in its initial stages - the chapters having acquired a light ivory hue - thus there is the likelihood for the process to progress through the years, granting the new owner of this formidable watch ever increasing delight.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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.