Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Rolex Daytona 16520 reaches collectible status
At the last Antiquorum Auction in Hongkong more than one new record has been set, but one of these records really is amazing. You could come to the conclusion that stainless steel is more expensive than white gold.
While our friends at several other watch blogs write about a record price for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref 5402 we wrote about last week, another record is at least as interesting. A Rolex Daytona 16520 sold for 125,000 HKD ($16,000), while the newer Daytona 116519 sold for 100,000HKD ($12,800).
Of course it isn’t new anymore that vintage piece sell for higher prices than their younger versions. But the Rolex Daytona ref 16520 with a Zenith El Primero being sold for a higher price than the new version in WHITE GOLD is very amazing. It looks like the Daytona with El Primero is reaching the collectible status and this is being translated into higher prices.
Edit: A few readers pointed out that this is not a normal 16520, but the highly sought after Mk I version. It was made in 1987 and is therefore one of the earliest Daytonas featuring a Zenith-made movement. You can recognize it due to the ‘floating’ cosmograph print on the dial as well as smaller details such as the inverted 6 on the chronograph 12-hour counter and the four dashes on the minute counter every 5 minutes, when later examples featured only three. The photo below shows the actual Daytona sold by Antiquorum and show the particular the characteristics of a Daytona 16520 Mk I.
By the way, did you know that caliber 4030 has a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, while it is based on a Zenith El Primero that is well known for its high frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour. Rolex choose to regulate this movement to a lower frequency.
Credits for the first photo go to De Horlogefotograaf
5 responses
The 16520 that was sold at Antiquorum was the 1st series (different from the one pictured) which is highly sought after. That price was considered a steal copared to other Mk Is. The whie dial one is much more expensive. I thought I’d get the fact straight that it is not an ordinary 16520. Cheers.
@Shattuck… thanx for filling this in. The Mk I indeed is much more sought after than later versions of the 16520. The photo was chosen for esthetic reasons, however shows another collectible Daytona with Patrizzi dial.
I think the header, photos and the lack of info on that particular 16520 MkI that was auctioned is a little misleading… =)
@Benjamin… fact is still that the ‘modern’ 16520 MkI sold for a higher price than the white gold Daytona 116519.
@Benjamin and Shattuck… I editted the text to make clear the distinct characteristics of this Daytona Mk I