Rolex Daytona Ref. 16520 Circa 1999 Walt-Grace-Vintage

The sports watch category has always been Rolex’s great domain and while the Crown’s many contributions have shaped the entire genre’s overall direction, it’s the Daytona chronograph that most collectors consider the brand’s greatest sports watch triumph. These stunning chronographs represent Rolex’s direct link to motorsports and this model was most famously the chosen watch of legendary actor-turned-serious-racer, Paul Newman. Rolex Daytonas are still awarded to the winners of the 24 Hours of Daytona, but these watches have transcended their link to racing and their utility as a chronograph to be seen as one of the popular high end wristwatches you can buy. Whether you’re a motorsports fan or simply a fan of Rolex and want to wear one of their true halo models, the Daytona is a watch that unifies most collectors as one of the most beloved wrist watch designs ever.

The Daytona range has seen many references come and been through many, many subtle design changes over its years of production. While some early and exotic Daytona Cosmograph references have ascended to become the most collectible and sought after vintage Rolexes ever made, the beloved chronograph’s modern era has also produced some of the coolest watches in Rolex history – including pieces like this beautiful “A-serial” “Zenith” Daytona ref. 16520 from 1999. When Rolex decided it was time to evolve their top level chronograph to use an automatic movement, those produced by the Zenith brand were the only automatic chrono movements available that satisfied the Crown’s stringent quality requirements, but not without something in the range of 200 separate modifications to Zenith movement’s original design! The “Zenith” Daytonas are historically significant, but they’re also robust, reliable, and increasingly desirable.

The steel “Zenith” Daytona available here is in lovely vintage condition. It boasts a case that has been lightly polished at some point in its life, but still shows thick, even lugs with strong dimensions. This watch’s dial and lume are both in mint condition, free of any flaws, cracks, chips, or notable wear, and its bezel is in similar condition, displaying no loss of color or detail. This is the perfect “Zenith” Daytona for the collector that wears their watches frequently and wants to grab a piece of Rolex history that they can wear daily comfortably.