Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2005 Reference No: 116519 Case No: D523921 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Beach Material: 18k white gold, diamonds and pink mother-of-pearl Calibre: Automatic, 4130, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Pink Rolex reptile leather strap Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Rolex twinlock folding deployant clasp Dimensions: 39 mm. diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
The most outstanding characteristic of the present Daytona Beach wristwatch is the pink mother-of-pearl hardstone dial and diamond-set numerals. A mother-of-pearl dial differs in colour intensity and structure, which gives each watch its own unique look.
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.