Rolex Daytona Reference 16520
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1993
Maker / issuer
RolexThis Rolex Daytona, reference 16520, is a stainless steel automatic chronograph dating from 1993, identified by its 'S' serial number. The timepiece is characterized by its black 'Inverted 6' dial, a detail that distinguishes this variant within the production series.
Powering the watch is the Rolex 4030 movement, which originated from a modified Zenith El Primero 400 caliber. The watch features a tachymetric bezel, a sapphire crystal, and an integrated stainless steel Oyster bracelet. The manufacturer updated the reference 16520 to include an increased depth rating of 100 meters (330 feet). The auction description reports that the dial and case are in well-preserved condition. The watch includes the signature 'Daytona' branding on the dial and a crown-signed case back with standard pushers and a screw-down crown system.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Chronograph
- Serial
- S
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Rolex 4030
- Reference
- 16520
- Base Caliber
- Zenith 400
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Water Resistance
- 100m / 330ft
- Maker / attribution
- Rolex
Design
- Visible features
- • Black dial with 'Inverted 6' numeral at the bottom sub-dial • Stainless steel Oyster bracelet • Tachymeter bezel calibrated to 400 units per hour • Screw-down chronograph pushers and central crown
- Dial and Case Design
- The watch displays a black dial featuring three sub-dials with metallic borders. The configuration is distinct for its 'Inverted 6' index located within the six-hour sub-dial. The dial includes the Rolex coronet, brand text, and 'Cosmograph' nomenclature. The layout is completed by applied baton hour markers and an external tachymeter scale printed on the steel bezel. The case is constructed in stainless steel and remains paired with its original factory-fitted Oyster bracelet. It is equipped with a sapphire crystal, which the source identifies as a technical upgrade for this specific reference to improve durability and water resistance compared to earlier manually-wound Daytona models.
- Movement and Performance
- The reference 16520 utilizes the Rolex 4030 automatic movement. This caliber was derived from the Zenith El Primero 400, a movement Rolex selected when transitioning the Daytona series from manual to automatic winding in 1988. Rolex performed approximately 200 modifications to the Zenith base to align the movement with company standards. This movement remained in production within this reference for a period of twelve years, serving as the technical basis for the transition to the automatic chronograph era of the Daytona line.
- Condition and Identification
- The watch is attributed to the year 1993 based on its 'S' serial number. The vendor describes both the dial and the case as being in well-preserved condition. The documentation provided by the seller addresses potential visual imperfections noted in the photography, clarifying that certain marks or spots visible on the dial are reflections from high-intensity lighting used during the cataloging process rather than physical damage to the watch.
Identification
- Reference
- 16520
- Serial number
- S
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The exact month of manufacture within 1993 is not stated
- Research required: Authenticity of individual internal components is not verified beyond the auction description