Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2015 Reference No: 116518 Case No: 6991V0U6 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Further accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 14th October 2015 stamped Dobner, instruction manual, product literature, hang tags, plastic bezel protector, green card holder, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
The new millennium witnessed another major milestone for Rolex when they introduced the new Daytona ref. 116520 being the first reference to feature the firm’s first in-house self-winding chronograph cal. 4130 replacing the former Zenith El-Primero based cal. 4030 used in the ref. 16520. Released in both stainless steel and gold, the ref. 116518 is the yellow gold variant of the model. Since its launch, gold examples have witnessed various dial iterations over the years in production, providing collectors a luxurious alternative of the coveted model.
One of the most intriguing marriages between horology and Hollywood is perhaps the story of the Paul Newman Daytona. With its story starting before it was known as the Paul Newman, Rolex commissioned a series of specially designed dials by infamous dialmaker Singer. Due to its initial poor reception of the so called “Paul Newman” dial, the production of these examples were exceedingly limited making them incredibly rare and highly sought after in the market today. An example was spotted on the wrist of acclaimed Hollywood actor and indie racing driver Paul Newman in an Italian magazine, immediately revitalizing the once less appreciated variant of the Daytona.
The present example ref. 116518 with champagne dial and black registers are dubbed by collectors today as a modern iteration of the “Paul Newman” dial due to its distinct colour combination with red accents giving the watch a sportier appeal. Presented in excellent “new old stock” condition, the present specimen has never been worn and still retains its full factory protective stickers with a bezel protector intact. Furthermore, it is accompanied by the full set of accessories with its original guarantee stamped by Italian retailer Dobner dated 2015.
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.
