Rolex Daytona 116528 'Mother of Pearl'

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Racing in style would be an understatement for this Rolex Daytona Ref. 116528 with a mother-of-pearl dial. Originally designed as a tool watch, this configuration gives it the character of a special-occasion timepiece, with an amazing contrast between the mother-of-pearl dial and the 18K yellow gold case and bracelet.

The 11652X series was introduced in 2000 and features the Rolex Calibre 4130, an in-house automatic chronograph movement. It replaced the previous Calibre 4030, which was based on the Zenith El Primero movement. The mother-of-pearl dial was available in different shades. This example features the lightest variation, creating a clean and well-balanced contrast with the yellow gold case and bracelet. More importantly it features Arabic numerals rather than diamond index.

As you can see, the watch is in very well-preserved condition. The lugs remain well defined, and the 18K yellow gold Oyster bracelet is tight and in excellent condition. The Rolex coronet is still clearly visible on the folding clasp. Dating to 2003, this Daytona is an excellent example of the iconic 116528, combining the unmistakable racing heritage of the Daytona with the elegance of a full yellow-gold configuration and a beautiful mother-of-pearl dial.

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

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