Description

The present reference is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 16520, an important automatic-generation Daytona powered by a movement based on the Zenith El Primero.

The 40 mm stainless-steel Oyster case is paired here with a black dial and a fixed tachymetric bezel, designed for measuring average speeds. Three subsidiary dials provide the chronograph’s elapsed-time readings, while the central seconds hand and the hour and minute hands complete the display.

Inside, the automatic Calibre 4030—developed by Rolex from the Zenith El Primero architecture—powers the watch’s hours, minutes, seconds, and chronograph functions. The ref. 16520 represents a landmark in the Daytona’s evolution, introducing automatic winding to the collection while retaining its unmistakable motorsport-inspired design.

Rolex – bio

Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, initially as Wilsdorf & Davis Ltd. Renamed Rolex by 1908 and moved its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919.  Their success is due to their innovation namely the legendary “Oyster” case – first water resistant watch and their extremely reliable movements.
The most famous models are Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, Explorer, GMT-Master, Submariner and many more.
The company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust.
One story, never confirmed by Wilsdorf, recounts that the name came from the French words “horlogerie exquise”‘è, meaning “exquisite clockwork”.