Our remarks

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 16520, Stainless Steel, Black Four-Liner Tritium Dial, 1990, Papers Cairo

The reference 16520 holds a special place in the history of the Daytona. It was the first Daytona with a self-winding movement, and that movement came from Zenith. Rolex took the famous El Primero, one of the great chronograph calibers of all time, and reworked it extensively to meet its own standards. Collectors simply call it the "Zenith Daytona", and today it is one of the most sought after modern vintage Rolex watches.

The 40 mm Oyster case is made of stainless steel. The screw-down pushers and the Triplock crown make it water resistant to 100 meters. The steel bezel carries the engraved tachymeter scale, which lets you measure average speed over a set distance.

The perfectly kept black dial is an early "four-liner". Collectors use this name for the dials with four lines of text below the Rolex crown, and they distinguish the different dial generations of the 16520 by such small details in the printing. The tritium markers and hands have aged harmoniously and give the watch the warm character of its era. The three white-framed counters stand out clearly against the black, which makes the dial wonderfully easy to read.

Inside works the Rolex caliber 4030, based on the Zenith El Primero. Rolex reduced its frequency to improve its longevity and changed a large part of its components, so the movement became a true Rolex in its own right.

Its worn on its ssteel Oyster bracelet.

The watch dates from 1990 and is in very good condition. It comes with its original papers, issued in Cairo in 1990. 

"An early Zenith Daytona with a four-liner dial, and a watch that marks the beginning of the modern Daytona story!"