Rolex Daytona 116519 'Meteorite'

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Daytona prices have experienced a meteoric rise in the last decade. The only thing about the Daytona to come down is the meteorite that went into making this dial. *Cue rimshot*All right, if you’ve recovered from that terrible pun we can get serious for a second. The ref. 116519 is the stealth-wealth Daytona. While it may look like steel to the undiscerning eye, the case and bracelet are made from 18k white-gold and it’s noticeable as soon as you feel the heft on your wrist. The luxurious case, however, takes a backseat to the real star of the show: the dial.The dial is cut from meteorite and it is simply out of this world (excuse the pun, again). Meteorite is a mesmerising material, not only due to its extraterrestrial origins but also due to the beautiful crosshatch structure of the material that becomes visible as light hits it from different angles. This effect is known as the Widmanstätten pattern and is caused by the occurrence of nickel-iron crystals in octahedrite iron meteorites. The dial sports 18k white-gold applied Roman hour markers and deeply recessed sub-dials. The ton-sur-ton look of the watch is tastefully broken up by the bright red chronograph and sub-dial hands as well as the red "Daytona" text.The watch dates back to 2004 and comes as a full set with the original box and papers. The papers contain a cool detail: they specify that this very watch was actually factory-delivered with a meteorite dial. This 116519 is in excellent condition and comes on a black alligator-leather Rolex strap with a matching 18k white-gold Rolex folding clasp.

Introduction

Rolex Cosmograph DaytonaRolex started making chronographs in the 1930s, but it was only in 1963 that a named product line was introduced: the Cosmograph. In some early advertisements, Rolex referred to the watch as the ‘Le Mans’ after the famous race track in France, although the name never appeared on the dial. After a few years, the line was officially renamed Cosmograph Daytona, after the racetrack in Florida.The most noticeable difference between these Cosmograph (Daytona) models and earlier Rolex chronographs was the tachymeter scale (used for measuring distance and speed) that was moved from its traditional placement on the dial to the bezel. Furthermore, the dial was updated with the introduction of contrasting sub-dials.It's hard to imagine now, but Daytonas received little love after their release. Most Daytonas languished in dealer displays for years and only started to get noticed by Italian collectors and dealers in the late 1980s. Nowadays, Daytonas are among the most sought after Rolex models, fetching prices from $20,000 for modern ones to many millions for rare vintage references. A big contrast with the $210 list price when it was first released!

Specifications

Shipping

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping by insured courier. Packages are generally dispatched within 2 days after receipt of payment and are shipped by private courier, PostNL, FedEx or Ferrari group; depending the value and destination. Consult us if you prefer another method of shipping. For all destinations tracking is available.