ROLEX, DAYTONA REF. 16520 'NO DAYTONA', AN EXTREMELY RARE STEEL AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH WITH A RARE DIAL

The present ref. 16520 is no ordinary “Zenith Daytona”. Look closely and you will that this extremely rare dial is without the red “Daytona” signature above the 12 hour register. The reason for this omission is unknown, the most probable explanation being the result of a printing mistake which eluded Rolex strict quality controls. Launched in 1988, the 16500-series comprised the first automatic chronographs to be introduced by Rolex, marking an end to the production of hand-wound Daytona models. The first movements used were the modified Zenith 'El Primero' movement, later replaced by the 4130 calibre developed in-house by Rolex.