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ROLEX Daytona Cosmograph Prototype Dial “Moonraker” Ref. 116520 – Stainless Steel – Circa 1999/2000

An extraordinary and unique Rolex Daytona Cosmograph Ref. 116520 “Moonraker” prototype, featuring a rare matte white structured prototype dial, preserved in excellent condition and accompanied by a full original set.

We are very excited to present this exceptional and historically important Rolex Daytona Cosmograph Ref. 116520 in stainless steel, fitted with its original steel Oyster bracelet. This watch represents a true prototype piece, created during Rolex’s experimental phase at the transition from the Zenith-powered Daytona to the in-house era.

This unique Daytona features a matte white, opaque, structured “orange peel” prototype dial, signed T SWISS – MADE T, confirming the use of tritium. Unlike standard production dials, the smaller hour markers and hands are tritium-filled rather than Luminova, underscoring its prototype status and early production characteristics.

The five-line dial displays several distinctive traits exclusive to this experimental series: the typography shows no serifs, and the red “DAYTONA” signature is notably finer and more delicate than on standard production models. The overall dial execution is markedly different from regular 116520 examples, reflecting Rolex’s exploration of aesthetic direction during this pivotal period.

The reverse of the dial is stamped with a Rolex “3”, indicating manufacture by Singer, the renowned third-party dial producer responsible for some of the most iconic Rolex dials ever made. In the late 1990s, Rolex produced a very small number of experimental “grené” and structured dials for references 16520 and early 116520 models, as part of the development process for the succeeding generation of Daytonas.

Only a handful of these prototype dial Daytonas are known, each differing slightly in execution. As such, they are universally regarded as high-end collector pieces, reserved for the most discerning enthusiasts and connoisseurs of the Daytona lineage.

This specific watch is documented and illustrated in “Ultimate Rolex Daytona” by Pucci & Papaleo, pages 596–599, further cementing its importance and scholarly recognition.

Set contents include:

- Outer box and inner box

- Original warranty papers (Germany, P-number, dated 1999/2000, sold in 2001)

- Green leather Rolex card holder

- Instruction booklets (Oyster and Daytona)

The watch is offered with a one-year warranty through our in-house watch laboratory, ensuring peace of mind alongside its exceptional collectability.

"Combining prototype rarity, scholarly documentation, and complete provenance, this Rolex Daytona Cosmograph Ref. 116520 “Moonraker” stands as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a true experimental Daytona from one of the most important chapters in Rolex history — a watch for collectors who can afford not only to dream.