Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2000 Reference No: 16520 Case No: P187337 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped "803B" and "78390A" to the endlinks, max length 220mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped "AB7" and "78390A" Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex punched Garantie stamped by "Associated Goldsmiths" retailer and dated October 28, 2000, sale tag, green cardholder, literature including calendar card for the years 2000/2001, and earlier Rolex box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
The 165xx series of timepieces marks the inception of an automatic movement in the Daytona. Launched in 1988 and in production until 2000 circa, the models are powered by a Zenith El Priemro ébauche modified by Rolex.
The arrival of this model is what prompted for the first time collectors to “discover” the Cosmograph Daytona as a collectible timepiece: Zenith supply of movement was slow, thus making this model the first Daytona to present a waiting list for clients.
The relative scarcity of the model combined with historical importance, looks and practicality have made the series highly coveted by collectors. While presenting less variations than the manual models, the community came to appreciate some iterations more than other. Most notably, the first and last pieces made (respectively R and L series, and A and P series) are now highly coveted. The present example indeed belongs to this cathegory, bearing a P serial number which identifies the piece as one of the very last 16520 to leave Rolex workshop.
Offered in excellent, unpolished and virtually unused condition and complete of its original Guarantee, the present P series is an enticing proposal for the watch enthusiast as well as for the most serious of collectors.
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.