Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2004 Reference No: 116519 Case No: Y522’349 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Emperor Watch & Jewellery Co., Hong Kong dated 8th June 2004, instruction manual, product literature, hangtag, green card holder.
Catalogue Essay
Rolex has always pioneered new materials in watchmaking. Meteorite dials, made from the Gibeon meteorite that fell in Namibia, are a particular favorite among collectors for their rarity and natural beauty. As the first to use meteorite in a wristwatch, Rolex masterfully incorporates the space-born material into the dials of certain Day-Date, GMT-Master, and Daytona models. Each thin slice of meteorite is uniquely patterned, so no two dials will ever be identical. The meteorite's surface is gently acid-washed to accentuate its mesmerizing texture.
This circa 2004 Daytona ref. 116519 featuring a meteorite dial is offered with its original guarantee. With meteorite supply now extremely limited, demand for these singular timepieces has steadily risen. For the discerning collector, this is a perfect opportunity to acquire one of Rolex's most desirable and fascinating watches.
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.