Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...
New York, Oct 17, 2008
LOT 225
Ref. 16520 Color Change Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Superlative Chronometer,Officially Certified, Cosmograph, Daytona," Ref. 16520. Made circa 1995. Fine and rare, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and a stainless steel Rolex Oysterlock bracelet. Accompanied by an instruction booklets and a recent service invoice from Rolex.
USD 15,000 - 20,000
EUR 11,000 - 14,000 / CHF 17,000 - 22,000
Sold: USD 19,200
C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, buttons and crown, Triplock winding crown protected by the crown guard, tachometer graduation on the bezel to 400 units per hour, sapphire crystal. D. Bicolor black and reddish silver with applied luminous steel indexes, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. 4030, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 31 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2 |
Very good |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Notes
This reference was one of the first modern Rolex watches to show some color change around the sub-dials. Some debate still remains regarding the causes of this color change, ranging from unstable materials used by Rolex to exposure to ultra-violet light. With the everincreasing trend for tropical dials in the current market, this feature quickly became a plus for collectors. The dials showsvarious degrees of color shift, depending on conditions and exposure.