Rolex Daytona 16518

Daytona Zenith 16518 c. 1991 Box

11139 Daytona Zenith 16518 c. 1991 Box The 'Zenith' Daytona takes its name from the movement sitting inside the case, which comes from Zenith and was the world's first automatic chronograph movement. Rolex took this movement and modified it to remove the date function, allowing it to fit in the thinner Daytona cases. Today, they are highly collectible and represent a very different time where watchmakers happily shared movements, rather than attempting to do everything in-house.\n\nRolex's Daytona might be one of the 'hottest' watches on the market today, but this wasn't always the case. The watch started out as the 'Cosmograph', seemingly named to coincide with NASA's efforts to explore the frontiers of space. Alas, Omega's Speedmaster won out and became the Moonwatch, leaving Rolex's new watch lacking a sense of purpose. \n\nIt wasn't until 1964 when Rolex rebranded the chronograph by associating it with the Daytona International Speedway, making the watch a racecar driver's tool. Even still, it never enjoyed much success until Rolex once again rebranded in the late 1980s, giving the Daytona a polished bezel and new dial that gave the watch a much more contemporary and luxurious feel. As the new watch grew in popularity, so did Rolex's vintage models. Today, both new and old alike are highly sought-after, with collectors appreciating the history as well as design of the now-iconic watch. Rolex Daytona 16518 Automatic 40 Light scratches or marks which cannot be felt with a fingernail. Signs of light use. Bevels and edges may show signs of professional polishing. Bracelet may have some mild stretch. Hallmarks and engravings may have light wear. Vintage watches may have noticeable patina and overall wear. Yellow Gold 1991 16518