- Circa 2008
- 40mm diameter
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Manufacturer: Rolex
Year: Circa 2008
Reference No: 116520
Case No: M897’984
Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona
Material: Stainless steel
Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 195mm
Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “PJ7”
Dimensions: 40mm diameter
Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 7th January 2009 stamped Okayama Tenmaya Department Store, instruction manual, product literature, hang tag, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
There are only a few wristwatches in the world that has achieved a legendary global status as the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. First introduced in the early 1960s via the ref. 6239, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was born amidst the golden era for chronograph timepieces inspired by the world of Automobile racing. In 1988, Rolex stunned the community once again with an entirely new Cosmograph Daytona ref. 16520. Dubbed as the first self-winding Daytona reference, the ref. 16520 is powered by the famous and at the time the most reliable chronograph caliber, the Zenith El Primero. Having enjoyed a successful production of 12 years, Rolex made a groundbreaking announcement in the year of the new millennium, a new Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520. Similar in appearance, powered by the firm’s first in-house self-winding chronograph caliber 4130.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520 was first released in stainless steel with two dial options as usual, black or white. An immediate commercial success, the ref. 116520 was always highly sought after in the market due to its practicality, iconic appearance and value. In 2016, Rolex replaced the ref. 116520 with the current ref. 116500 featuring a Cerachrom bezel instead of the previous metallic stainless steel bezel.

The present Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520 fitted with a white dial with an “M” serial from circa 2009, is offered with the full set of accessories including a Rolex Japan guarantee card stamped by a local department store as well as retaining its desirable Rolex Japan seal on the caseback. Very well-preserved, the present example is certainly a collectible example of the reference, and would definitely fulfill expectations from renowned collectors around the world.
Artist Biography
Rolex
Swiss • 1905
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.
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