Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XII Hong Kong Saturday, June 5, 2021 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1995
    Reference No: 16520
    Movement No: 105’073
    Case No: W893’931
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona “Colour Change”
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78390”, endlinks stamped “503B”, max length 200mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “V4”
    Dimensions: 40mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped The Hour Glass dated 26th January 1997, instruction manual, product literature, 1996-1997 calendar card, hang tags, green card holder, green passport holder, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    An instant success since its launch, the ref. 16520 continues to achieve premium results at auction with an ever growing community of admirers and is considered as one of the most important sports watches ever produced. With that said, certain examples of the reference are certainly rarer than others due to distinctive traits that separates them from the rest. During the manufacturing process of the dial, one of the procedures is to apply a layer of varnish on the registers dubbed as Zapon. The nature of this varnish that was used in certain batches produced, developed a natural “tropical” brown hue over time at random. First realized in 2005 by acclaimed Italian auctioneer whilst putting together an auction that one example of the reference featured a much darker hue of the registers than the other. Despite the fact, the example with a darker register sold for much more. It is believed that examples bearing a S,N,T and W serial were common with such trait.

    The present example Rolex Daytona ref. 16520 from circa 1995 bearing a “W” serial with “tropical” brown registers is offered with its full set of accessories and in excellent overall condition. The uniformed tropicalization of the registers will surely impress discerned collectors seeking for a splendid specimen of this coveted reference.

  • 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.

    View More Works

1094

Ref. 16520
A very fine and rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with “tropical” registers, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box

Circa 1995
40mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$320,000 - 650,000 
€34,000-69,100
$41,000-83,300

Sold for HK$756,000

Contact Specialist

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

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XII

Hong Kong Auctions 5-6 June 2021