Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2000 Reference No: 116520 Case No: P261’412 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona, "P Series" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4130, 44 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78490”, max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “AB11” Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Further accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 11th March 2001 stamped Wesleys Jlrs, 2000 – 2001 calendar card, instruction manual, green wallet, hang tags, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Launched in 2000, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520 was the firm’s first to feature an in-house self-winding chronograph cal. 4130. Replacing its former ref. 16520, the new featured subtle changes to the case and dial such as polished and slender lugs and a subtle switch of the hour registers and seconds register.
Examples fitted with a white dial manufactured between 2000 – 2002 often have a common trait of naturally developing a “cream dial” due to the nature of its material. The present example bearing a P serial belongs to the first series of the reference manufactured. High in demand in today’s market, examples bearing a P serial command higher value than its later examples due to its short production. The present timepiece is presented with a clean white dial with no signs of color changing on the dial and is further preserved in excellent overall condition and accompanied by the full set of accessories.
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.