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Lot Essay
This remarkable full-set example of the iconic ‘Zenith’ Daytona reference 16520 with white ‘inverted 6’ prototype dial immediately captures the attention by its large Arabic numerals that were not, of course, a feature of the serially produced watches of the 16520 reference. Indeed, this Arabic numeral dial type was not put into series production until the launch of the white gold reference 16519 in 1997.
For collectors of the finest Rolex wristwatches, in particular the Cosmograph Daytona, details are everything. The watches that exhibit distinctive or unique variations from the regular serial production watches are some of the most sought after of all. Similarly, for some Cosmograph Daytona references examples exist with prototype dials that are recognized as highly important links that chart the early development and progression of a reference through to its final production model.
In 1988 Rolex debuted a watch that would start an entirely new collecting field, the growth of which could not have been envisaged. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 16520 was to change the entire brand’s future forever. The new model ticked many boxes for watch buyers, particularly as the first automatic Daytona, powered by a heavily modified (with over 200 modifications) Zenith El Primero caliber 4030 which was the only one to meet Rolex’s exacting standards. Hence the model has become widely known as the ‘Zenith Daytona’.
The present steel reference 16520 is fitted with one of the incredibly rare and fascinating prototype dials made by Singer that demonstrate unadopted designs. Very few examples of such prototype dials are known publicly. The possibly unique aspect to the present white dial is the large Arabic numerals, black-ringed subsidiary dials featuring the famous ‘inverted 6’ on the chronograph hour register seen on some early dials before 1995.
An amazing addition to any comprehensive Daytona collection, this ultra-rare and visually striking ‘Zenith’ Daytona prototype dial is undoubtedly a key and historic component in the development of the first automatic Cosmograph.
The Automatic Cosmograph Daytona
The importance of the automatic Cosmograph Daytona cannot be underestimated, now over 30 years since its introduction, the automatic Daytona has itself become hugely desirable and sought after by collectors. The first reference of the new automatic was 16520, available in steel, all gold (reference 16528) and steel and gold (reference 16523), it featured a larger 40 mm. case that was for the first time made with crown guards. The model was available only with a solid metal tachymeter bezel and the crystals are sapphire crystal in place of acrylic for added scratch resistance. Interestingly, the movement was not an in-house Rolex movement but a heavily modified (with over 200 modifications) Zenith El Primero caliber 4030 which was the only one to meet Rolex’s exacting standards. Hence the model has become known generally as the ‘Zenith Daytona’. For the production of the reference 16520, certain dial design details changed, such as the use of a glossy finish and applied metal hour markers. As for the majority of Rolex models, the dials were slightly changed and improved over time, this has led to some rare variations being noticed by collectors that are now highly desirable. The most dramatic being the colour change subsidiary dials which can vary from light to dark brown and were caused by the degradation of the organic ‘Zapon’ coating on some dials made in 1994 and 1995. The famous ‘inverted 6’ dials from around 1993/4 are defined by the digit ‘6’ at 6 o’clock of the 12-hour subsidiary dial having the appearance of being upside down and therefore resembling a ‘9’ and the ‘Floating Cosmograph’ from the early production years are just some of the varieties available to the collector today.
For collectors of the finest Rolex wristwatches, in particular the Cosmograph Daytona, details are everything. The watches that exhibit distinctive or unique variations from the regular serial production watches are some of the most sought after of all. Similarly, for some Cosmograph Daytona references examples exist with prototype dials that are recognized as highly important links that chart the early development and progression of a reference through to its final production model.
In 1988 Rolex debuted a watch that would start an entirely new collecting field, the growth of which could not have been envisaged. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 16520 was to change the entire brand’s future forever. The new model ticked many boxes for watch buyers, particularly as the first automatic Daytona, powered by a heavily modified (with over 200 modifications) Zenith El Primero caliber 4030 which was the only one to meet Rolex’s exacting standards. Hence the model has become widely known as the ‘Zenith Daytona’.
The present steel reference 16520 is fitted with one of the incredibly rare and fascinating prototype dials made by Singer that demonstrate unadopted designs. Very few examples of such prototype dials are known publicly. The possibly unique aspect to the present white dial is the large Arabic numerals, black-ringed subsidiary dials featuring the famous ‘inverted 6’ on the chronograph hour register seen on some early dials before 1995.
An amazing addition to any comprehensive Daytona collection, this ultra-rare and visually striking ‘Zenith’ Daytona prototype dial is undoubtedly a key and historic component in the development of the first automatic Cosmograph.
The Automatic Cosmograph Daytona
The importance of the automatic Cosmograph Daytona cannot be underestimated, now over 30 years since its introduction, the automatic Daytona has itself become hugely desirable and sought after by collectors. The first reference of the new automatic was 16520, available in steel, all gold (reference 16528) and steel and gold (reference 16523), it featured a larger 40 mm. case that was for the first time made with crown guards. The model was available only with a solid metal tachymeter bezel and the crystals are sapphire crystal in place of acrylic for added scratch resistance. Interestingly, the movement was not an in-house Rolex movement but a heavily modified (with over 200 modifications) Zenith El Primero caliber 4030 which was the only one to meet Rolex’s exacting standards. Hence the model has become known generally as the ‘Zenith Daytona’. For the production of the reference 16520, certain dial design details changed, such as the use of a glossy finish and applied metal hour markers. As for the majority of Rolex models, the dials were slightly changed and improved over time, this has led to some rare variations being noticed by collectors that are now highly desirable. The most dramatic being the colour change subsidiary dials which can vary from light to dark brown and were caused by the degradation of the organic ‘Zapon’ coating on some dials made in 1994 and 1995. The famous ‘inverted 6’ dials from around 1993/4 are defined by the digit ‘6’ at 6 o’clock of the 12-hour subsidiary dial having the appearance of being upside down and therefore resembling a ‘9’ and the ‘Floating Cosmograph’ from the early production years are just some of the varieties available to the collector today.