Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2022 Reference No: 116598TBR Case No: 7’P0X’5766 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona, “Eye of the Tiger” Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex international guarantee dated 6th September 2022, leather card holder, instruction manual, product literature, hang tag, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
Rolex is known for their ability to transform robust utilitarian sports models into eye-catching gem-set showstoppers. Within the realm of Rolex collecting, these bejewelled wristwatches are in a class of their own, and the present Daytona is the ultimate epitome of luxury sports watches.
Following the success of the “Rainbow” Daytona, the firm pushes the limit by launching the ref. 116588TBR with an Oysterflex rubber strap at the 2019 Baselworld where collectors quickly coined its nickname, “The Eye of the Tiger”. An opulent yellow gold and diamond-set wristwatch, its hyper-flamboyant dial is distinguished by its symmetrical tiger stripes in black lacquer and the surrounding 243 pavé-diamonds outlined in a yellow gold setting and champagne chronograph counters. Unlike conventional Daytonas, the 8 diamond indexes on the present model are not hour markers but are indeed minute markers as suggested by the minute quarters displayed at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, respectively. The bezel is adorned with 36 trapeze-cut diamonds set closely together in an invisible setting; a technique developed by Van Cleef & Arpels is rendered the most challenging when applied to watches.
The present ref. 116598TBR from 2022 is a more luxurious update to the original reference with the full-gold Rolex Oyster bracelet and diamond-set crown guards and lugs. Offered in “like-new” condition, this sensational discontinued beast is accompanied with its full set of original 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.