I don’t think I need to go too much into the Daytona as anyone who is anyone knows about this watch. It has always been the case that the ultimate Rolex is ironically not a solid gold President Day-Date, but the Cosmograph Daytona. With waitlists in the years to authorised dealers these days not even entertaining you unless you’ve bought another Rolex before, the Daytona is without a doubt the most desirable and hardest to get Rolex in the market today.
However, I believe it remains crucial to briefly reiterate the Rolex Daytona's origin story. In 1959, the Daytona International Speedway emerged as the swiftest racing track in the United States, and in 1962, it became renowned for hosting the esteemed “Rolex 24 At Daytona” endurance race. Recognizing the significance of this racing venue, Rolex was designated as the official timepiece/timekeeper of the Daytona International Speedway. In 1963, Rolex solidified its connection to the illustrious racetrack by christening its newly introduced racing chronograph as the Cosmograph Daytona.
This example is the discontinued Ref. 116520. Its introduction in 2000 represented a significant shift for Rolex, transitioning from relying on externally sourced chronograph movements to their in-house, self-winding Cal. 4130. Previously, Rolex utilized Zenith El Primero movements in the Ref. 16520 model, and before that, Valjoux ébauches in the 62XX series.
The enduring appeal of the Rolex Daytona undoubtedly lies in its timeless aesthetics, especially in an example like this one, featuring a sleek stainless steel case, a pure white dial, and the ability to just look right at home on any wrist, which speaks volumes to its timelessness. Its design language evokes a resonance similar to other iconic creations such as the Porsche 911 and Fender Stratocaster, a sentiment I am sure resonates with many.
This reference was eventually succeeded by the Ref. 116500 in 2016 (which in turn, was discontinued in 2023 and succeeded by the newer Ref. 126500), and we are slowly starting to see this Ref. 116520 becoming more and more collectable in recent years. What makes this particular example even more special is the fact that it possesses an early P-serial. This means that not only does this example mark the earliest run of this reference, but it also falls within a specific serial range of Ref. 116520s with white dials that could potentially develop a pale cream colour over time. Collectors refer to these dials as 'Panna', a trait or patina that is only found in a relatively tight serial range of Ref. 116520s produced only between 2000 and 2002 (P, K, and Y serials). Although the dial on our example has only displayed subtle hints of a creamy 'Panna' hue along its periphery, we anticipate it to become more pronounced with time.
Perhaps one of the most desirable and sought-after Daytona references in recent years, the Ref. 116520 is increasingly becoming actively hunted down by collectors, with P-serials being particularly desirable. For avid Rolex collectors, this is one unique opportunity that should not be missed.
