The Cosmograph Daytona can be considered without a doubt among the most successful and well known line of chronograph wristwatches ever devised by any manufacturer. Introduced in 1963 with manually wound reference 6239, it underwent through various evolutions before being upgraded with an automatic movement around 1988 (reference 16520).

Reference 116528 was launched at the 2000 Baselworld together with ref. 116500 in steel and 116523 in steel and gold, the first Daytona models equipped with a fully in-house Rolex movement, calibre 4130. With fewer components, meaning improved reliability and an easier servicing procedure, this new movement also had an increased the power reserve: 72 hours compared to its predecessors 54.