Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 15, 2016

LOT 131

ROLEX REF. 16518/16500 PORCELAIN DAYTONA DIAMOND INDEX N SERIAL MARK II DIAL YELLOW GOLD Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, Cosmograph Daytona," case No. N305788, Ref. 16518/16500. Made in 1991, sold in March 1998. Fine and rare, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and an 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp. Accompanied by a the original warranty, instruction booklet card case, handkerchief and fitted wooden box.

CHF 15,000 - 25,000

HKD 120,000 - 200,000 / USD 16,000 - 26,000

Sold: CHF 76,250

Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, crown and buttons, Triplock winding crown protected by the crown guard, tachometer graduation on the bezel to 400 units per hour, sapphire crystal. Bicolor white and black with applied yellow gold diamond-set indexes, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers. Yellow gold baton hands. Cal. 4030, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 31 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 6 positions, shock absorber, selfcompensating free- sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 40 mm. THICKNESS 13 mm. If the world of ROLEX collecting never ceases to amaze us, here is a perfect example of another variation of DAYTONAS, never seen by collectors. Bought new by the consignor in 1998, the watch was actually made in 1991, confirmed by the N SERIAL stated on the warranty. Part of the early production of the 16518 that was started around 1989, the watch is characterized by the four line dial (lacking the official certified), its desirability is further enhanced by the porcelain dial (usually found on the R-L serial Daytonas with floating dial) and the diamond indexes. Never offered at auction before, a rare opportunity to acquire one of the RAREST ZENITH DAYTONAS ever produced.