Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2000 Reference No: 116528 Case No: P314’176 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona, "Semi-Panna" Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 195mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Hollfelder dated 29th May 2001, instruction manual, product literature, hang tag, green card holder, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
The present Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116528 from circa 2000 bearing a “P” serial belongs to one of the earliest batch of the new reference in the first year of production. Throughout the course of its production, some early examples with white dials, specifically examples with serials P,K & Y, have developed a cream patina over time due to the nature of the lacquer used. The present example Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116528 with a white dial from circa 2000 features a “P” serial case that remarkably has also started to also develop a warm and creamy tone.
Replacing its former ref. 16528, the new model features gold registers instead of the previous black registers. Upgraded with Rolex’s first in-house cal. 4130, it replaced the Zenith El Primero based cal. 4030.
Hefty and luxurious wrist presence with an iconic look combined with robustness, the present example is preserved in excellent overall condition and complete with its full set of accessories.
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.