Rolex Daytona 16528

Rolex A glamorous and catching, Daytona, automatic chronograph wristwatch in yellow gold, pavè diamond and rubies set dial, with Rolex service, reference 16528.

A glamorous and catching, Daytona, automatic chronograph wristwatch in yellow gold, pavè diamond and rubies set dial, with Rolex service, reference 16528. The reference 16528 marks a pivotal moment in the history of the Daytona. Introduced in 1988, it ushered in the automatic era, replacing manual-wind movements with a self-winding calibre and introducing a slightly larger, more robust case. Crafted entirely in 18k yellow gold, it reflects the confident spirit of the late 1980s, transforming the Daytona into a true luxury statement. The present example elevates this further. The yellow-gold case and bracelet are beautifully preserved with strong proportions, but it is the dial that defines the watch: fully pavé-set with diamonds, creating a vibrant, light-catching surface, punctuated by eight vivid ruby hour markers. This rare combination of diamond pavé and ruby indexes is seldom seen and highly sought after. The dial is believed to have been supplied to a valued Rolex client after the original sale, a privilege occasionally granted by the manufacture. Already significant as the dawn of the automatic Daytona, this reference 16528, with its exceptional dial configuration, becomes something far rarer, a striking and highly collectible expression of Rolex’s most iconic chronograph.