Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2000 Reference No: 116520 Case No: P421’525 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona "Mustard Dial" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 8th September 2001 stamped Heller Jewelers, instruction manual, product literature, 2000-2001 calendar card, green passport holder, outer packaging and fitted presentation box. Provenance: The present example is the exact timepiece that is featured in the Pucci Papaleo’s “Ultimate Rolex Daytona” book page 71.
Provenance
The present example is the exact timepiece that is featured in the Pucci Papaleo’s “Ultimate Rolex Daytona” book page 71.
Catalogue Essay
Introduced in 2000, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520 was an important milestone for the firm bearing for the first time the very first in-house self-winding chronograph movement cal. 4130 manufactured by Rolex. Replacing its predecessor ref. 16520, the new model also had its own charms in various examples, especially early ones featuring a white dial.
With anything that is manmade, even a prestigious manufacturer such as Rolex with extremely strict quality control protocols can also make mistakes. Between 2000 and 2002, examples fitted with white dials with either serials P,K and Y were known to have developed a change in hue of the dial to “cream” over time due to a natural defect of the varnish used. Resulting in what can be described as a “beautiful mistake”, examples featuring this colour changing trait are very rare and highly sought after in the market as it altered the whole appearance of the watch giving it a heightened vintage appeal. Developed over time in random manner, every example is perhaps different from one another as the intensity of the hue can vary.
The present example Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520 with a “mustard” dial belongs an early example of the reference with a P serial from circa 2000. Separating itself from the rest, the present example has developed an intensified change in colour of the dial. Well-preserved, the present example is further accompanied by its original guarantee and presentation box.
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.