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Lot Essay
The Rolex Daytona reference 16520 debuted in 1988 and was the first Daytona to house an automatic movement. Rolex used a heavily-modified Zenith El Primero movement to power the reference 16520. This new Daytona came in a larger case with a sapphire crystal and was available in stainless steel, yellow gold, and, for the first time, two-tone yellow gold and steel. The reference 16520 became an immediate success. This particular example is from 1994 and features a beautiful white dial with partially black registers and "Daytona" in red text, reminiscent of the "Big Red" and early "Paul Newman" Daytonas. The reference 16520 line was discontinued in circa 2001 when Rolex introduced their first in-house chronograph movement. Rolex Daytona's housing the El Primero movement are gaining popularity among collectors and are becoming highly sought after.
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Condition report
A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.
The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
The case is in good condition with scratches. The bracelet has scratches throughout and shows signs of wear. The bracelet has a lot of stretch. The dial and hands appear to be original and in excellent condition. The bezel has scratches. This watch has a 78390 bracelet with 503B end links. According to the service paperwork, the following work was performed: case and bracelet polish, sapphire glass replacement, clasp replacement, inverter wheel replacement, and bezel replacement. The movement is in working order at the time of cataloging, consistent with the age of the watch. The movement has not been tested for accuracy. A service is recommended given the age of the watch.