Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1988 Reference No: 16528; inside caseback stamped 16520 Movement No: 10’225 Case No: R’833’501 Model Name: Oyster Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, 4030, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, endlinks stamped 103, max overall length 215mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp, reference 78668, stamped M6 Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed. Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex wallet with serial number, chronometer certificate booklet, Rolex Daytona product literature, Rolex Oyster product literature, calendar card for 1988-1989, Rolex red leather wallet, handkerchief, hang tag, wax seal, fitted presentation box, and outer box.
Catalogue Essay
The present reference 16528 in yellow gold from the earliest era of Rolex’s production of the first self-winding Daytona, features the coveted floating placement of the “Cosmograph” designation on the dial with an inverted six in the subdial at 6 o’clock. Produced for only one year from 1988 until 1989, this remarkable dial variant can only be found on examples bearing an “R” or “L” serial number. Part of the R series, the present specimen is also fitted with the correct Mark 1 bezel with 200 units scale and unit per hour text at 3 o’clock mark. The early dial, made for Rolex by Singer, features lovely and extremely fine serifs on all text, and is further accentuated by its overall flawless condition.
Highly collectible with incredible rarity, the connoisseurs with keen attention to details will be particularly taken with this example. It is offered with its guarantee wallet with serial number, information booklets, hang tag, and presentation boxes.
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.
