Preserved in “new-old-stock” condition, the present 116520 is one of a pair of impeccably kept Cosmograph Daytonas, with white and black dials respectively, presented here with their full suite of original accessories.

Rolex’s Daytona Cosmograph has a long history beginning in the middle of the 20th century when “tool” wristwatches were offered by several manufacturers with a variety of complications ranging from dive and dual-time watches to chronographs. Rolex’s first Daytona was the reference 6239 released in 1963, and over the ensuing decades, the model evolved in to one of the most iconic and cherished wristwatches today. A revolutionary change occurred in 1988 with the release of the Daytona reference 16520 featuring a heavily modified version of Zenith’s El Primero movement. The first self-winding chronograph model in the history of the company resulted in unprecedented demand that required clients to wait as long as seven years to purchase one. Its ease of use, accuracy, and a larger, sportier design added to the Daytona’s desirability.

In 2000, the next revolutionary change occurred when Rolex released the reference 116520 now sporting the brand’s first, fully in-house chronograph movement, the caliber 4130. The present “M” series example from 2007 is in absolutely new condition with all factory stickers perfectly intact. The Daytona is a historic chronograph, and this is an extremely rare opportunity to own a truly “new-old-stock” example that has remained unworn for the last 15 years.