The Daytona story began like a love story with racecar drivers, one of the most successful drivers used to wear Rolex watches was Sir Malcom Campbell who set many speed records in Europe and in a Florida city called Daytona Beach, he attracted the attention of Rolex and became their ambassador.<\/p>\n
In 1955 version, the Reference 6234, was labeled the “Rolex Chronograph\u201d a pre-Daytona model. Surprisingly the Daytona wasn\u2019t a success back then, despite celebrities like Paul Newman endorsing it. By 2000, Rolex started to use an in-house movement on the new 1165xx series, the steel version remains as of today the most sought after model of the entire catalogue.<\/p>\n Applied luminous hands as well as the square and baton numerals, another important detail is the \u201cinverted 6\u201d on the lowest subsidiary register, a particularity appreciated by collectors today. The tachometer bezel is the 3rd variation, graduated from 60 until 400 units per hour, the 40mm steel case is preserved in an excellent condition as well as the oyster bracelet with hardly any sign of wear, without any stretch and fitted with a deployant clasp. \u00a0 \u00a0Overall the watch is in an almost unworn condition with minor sign of wear.<\/p>\n To bring this find to another level of collectability, it is even rarer to discover an almost complete set, with namely;\u00a0the Tiffany & Co. warranty certificate, Tiffany & Co. presentation box and the famous signature turquoise coloured outer packaging. – This timepiece is available for viewing by prior appointment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 <\/span>Their success is due to their innovation namely the legendary \u201cOyster\u201d case – first water resistant watch and their extremely reliable movements.
\nThe birth, in 1963 the Rolex Chronograph reference 6239 with a tachometer scale engrave on the bezel to enhance readability of the dial was released, incredibly the initial name Rolex used was \u201cLe Mans\u201d, another famous racetrack based in France.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s only by 1965 that the *Daytona* name started to be printed on the dial of the 6239.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Eventually the model became popular and a more modern version was released in 1988 using an automatic Zenith \u201cEl Primero\u201d modified movement, the reference 16520 (steel), reference 16523 (in steel and gold) and reference 16528 (in yellow gold).\u00a0 <\/span>Main difference was the case size of 40mm, 3mm bigger than its predecessor and the adoption of a sapphire crystal to replace the Plexiglas.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>The limited supply helped the watch achieve a cult status.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The present watch is a very rare, Cosmograph<\/strong>\u00a0Daytona<\/strong>\u00a0(reference 16520<\/strong> X series) originally sold by the famous American retailer Tiffany & Co. around 1991. Highly collectible due to the fact that the black gloss dial is double signed, a few little words can sometime make a big difference, as we see here the very sought after “Tiffany & Co.<\/strong>” is stamped below ‘Cosmograph’.<\/p>\n
\nWith regards to the provenance, it is well documented and at disposal upon request.<\/p>\n
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\nThe most famous models are Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, Explorer, GMT-Master, Submariner and many more.
\nThe company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust.
\nOne story, never confirmed by Wilsdorf, recounts that the name came from the French words “horlogerie exquise”, meaning \u201cexquisite clockwork\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n