Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2003 Reference No: 116523 Case No: F272’694 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K yellow gold and stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold and stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 195mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold and stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Caronel Guam dated 1st November 2004, instruction manual, product literature, 2003-2004 calendar card, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
The reference 116523 was the first stainless steel and yellow gold Daytona chronograph to feature Rolex’s new in-house calibre 4130. Released in 2000, the calibre 4130, replaced the famed Zenith El Primero caliber 4030. With fewer components than its predecessor, the calibre 4130 revolutionized the chronograph movement with precision, efficiency and performance. The present watch is a fine example of the two-tone Rolex Daytona with its stainless steel case and engraved gold bezel with gold screw-down pushers.
Fitted with an attractive glossy black dial adorned with diamond-set indexes, the present Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116523 retains its protective stickers and is complete with its full set of accessories with a guarantee dated 2004.
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.
Ref. 116523 A fine and "like-new" two-tone stainless steel and yellow gold diamond-set indexes chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
Circa 2003 40mm diameter Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed