Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE Hong Kong Monday, November 30, 2015 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1997
    Reference No: 16520
    Movement No: 136'165
    Case No: T858642
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, 4030, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, 180 mm. maximum length, end links stamped 503B
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex folding twin lock deploying clasp stamped Rolex
    Dimensions: 39 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Literature: For another example of a reference 16520 Daytona with "tropical" registers, please see The Ultimate Rolex Daytona by Pucci Papaleo, page 556 to 559.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Automatic Daytonas like their manual predecessors, can sometimes turn "tropical". The elements usually affected are the white rings of the registers which can over time turn a variety of variations from beige to chocolate. Rolex had not planned for these changes, it is rather a natural oxidization process.

    This natural oxidation process affects automatic Daytonas manufactured from 1993 to 1997. The current watch falls into the last year of these "tropical" examples. The present watch is in immaculate condition, with full proportions, finishes and original green factory sticker to the case back.

  • 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
A rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with "tropical" registers and bracelet

1997
39 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$80,000 - 150,000 

Sold for HK$162,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE

Hong Kong Auction 1 December 2015 11am