Rolex Daytona 116520 'APH Dial'

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The reference 116520 is the perfect everyday-wear Daytona.After retiring the hand wound Valjoux Datonas in 1988, Rolex introduced a new 40 mm Daytona with an automatic movement. These heavily modified Zenith El Primero self-winding calibers were used until 1999 when Rolex finally unveiled its first in-house chronograph movement for the new 1165xx Daytonas.This ref. 116520 from 2010 with a white dial is the perfect Daytona for everyday wear. This specimen features a so-called ‘APH’ dial due to a noticeable gap between the words “COSMOGR” and “APH”. Dials with this ‘error’ were only produced for a short period, making these Daytonas more desirable among collectors.The watch is in amazing condition. It has a sharp stainless steel case, measuring in at 40 mm, and a stretch-free Oyster bracelet. Compared to its predecessor, the ref. 16520 that was produced until late 1999, the 116520 has a fancier look thanks to its polished lugs. The polished theme is continued in the characteristic Daytona-specific Oyster bracelet with the polished center links and the wonderful heavy fliplock clasp.This collectible 116520 is still one of the most affordable steel Daytonas on the market, for now... Grab this one quick, because in a few years you’ll regret not having jumped on the wagon earlier!

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

Packages are generally dispatched within 2 days after receipt of payment and are shipped within the Netherlands by Registered Mail through the Dutch carrier PostNL and for other countries by Fedex. Consult us if you prefer another method of shipping. For most destinations tracking is available.