Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1999 Reference No: 16520 Case No: A 571’594 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3040, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, stamped “78390, A”, max length 200 mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Further delivered with original Rolex guarantee with retailer stamped Centre Bijoux Diamants dated 24th December 1999, green wallet, calendar card, extra links, hangtags, bezel protector, product literature, outer packaging and fitted presentation box
Catalogue Essay
The present example is a beautiful example of a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in steel reference 16520 with a black dial and “A” series. The “A” series was one of the last of the Zenith Daytona family, it was the modernized version of the Zenith Daytona family and is highly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors.
This present example is offered in overall excellent condition with a beautifully crisp case. The lot is also accompanied further with all original Rolex accessories, including guarantee, hangtags, and presentation box.
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.