Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1998 Reference No: 16519 Movement No: 160’549 Case No: U847’754 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 4030, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex Oyster deployant clasp, stamped “16519” Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Lucerne Jewellers Philippines and dated 11th October 1998, service invoice dated 31st May 2013 and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona has long been a fan favourite and even more so during the launch of the ref. 16500 series featuring for the first time, a self-winding caliber. Marking an important debut for the Daytona, the Zenith El Primero based cal. 4030 was only used in this particular series up until 2000 when Rolex released their new line of Daytona models featuring the firm’s first ever in-house self-winding cal. 4130.
The present ref. 16519 is a showstopper with its head-turning hot pink ensemble. The Barbie-esque pink-mother-of-pearl dial is given a refreshing look as it is adorned with eight applied Arabic numerals in white gold that perfectly embodies sporty elegance. An example born in 1998 bearing a “U” serial, this pink lady would pave the way for the beloved “Beach” series debuted in the early 2000s with the array of hardstone dials. Today, these watches are rare collector’s items, and it is furthermore very rare to find a watch from this series that is very well preserved, like the present example, and accompanied with its original guarantee. A perfect timepiece for a seaside retreat, the present timepiece makes a stunning example amongst this season’s rare Daytonas.
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.