Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2007 Reference No: 116519 Case No: Z744’681 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 29th November 2007 stamped Rüschenbeck Dortmund, instruction manual, product literature, 2007 – 2008 calendar card, green card holder, hang tags, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
In 2000, Rolex introduced the groundbreaking Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520, featuring the firm’s first ever in-house self-winding chronograph caliber 4130, replacing its former Zenith El Primero based caliber 4030. Entering into the new millennium with a bang, Rolex also introduced gold variants of the Cosmograph Daytona, and also for the first time were also offered with various dial materials, including hardstones. Rolex has always been at the innovative forefront when it comes to the experimentation of dial materials. Hardstone dials have always been a collectors favourite due to the fact that every dial is unique as it is natural. Various hardstones have differing natures, in terms of composition, luster and hardness, hence executing hardstone dials require extreme precision to execute.
The present example Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116519 is fitted with an attractive red grossular garnet rubellite dial with diamond-set indexes. Paired with a burgundy red crocodile strap and offered in “new old stock” condition with its full factory protective stickers intact and complete with its full set of accessories, this present example can only been dubbed as the perfect specimen of this reference.
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. 116519 A very fine, rare and well-preserved white gold chronograph wristwatch with grossular garnet rubellite dial, diamond-set indexes, guarantee and presentation box
Circa 2007 40mm diameter Case, dial, movement and clasp signed