920
Rolex
Ref. 16528
Cosmograph Daytona
A very rare, highly attractive and well-preserved yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, diamond indexes, "MK I 4-liner" and "inverted 6" dial
- Estimate
- HK$300,000 - 500,000€36,000 - 60,100$38,500 - 64,100
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1988
- Reference No
- 16528
- Movement No
- 15’100
- Case No
- R’983’983
- Model Name
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, endlinks numbered 103, max length 190mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp, numbered 78’668, stamped M8
- Dimensions
- 40mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Rolex hang tag.
Catalogue Essay
This particular ref. 16528 exemplifies the extraordinarily rare "R" serial Daytona from 1988, among the very first batch ever fitted with the history-making self-winding caliber. Adding to its rarity is the early MK 1 bezel with its 200 unit graduation, later updated to 400 units. But the most coveted aspect is its Singer dial, made by the renowned dial maker that Rolex collaborated with in the 1980s. With diamond indexes and the “inverted 6” in the subdial, this specific variant was made only for approximately one year, making it extraordinarily scarce and coveted. While later dials had 5 lines of text, these early Singer dials have just 4 lines lacking " OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED ", marking them apart.
Offered in exceptionally well-preserved condition, the present watch exemplifies the most desirable and short-lived iteration of the groundbreaking Daytona.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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.