THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 116520
YEAR: 2004
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

For years, the Daytona has been the most “desirable” model from Rolex—and for good reason. They are balanced, sleek, and wear beautifully on the wrist (even the modern ones, we have to admit). However, looking at the model’s history, there have only been three generations of automatic Daytonas.

In the late 1980s, Rolex released the first automatic Daytona, the reference 16520. Rolex did not, in fact, develop its own movement at the time, but instead modified Zenith’s El Primero calibre. Just over a decade later, Rolex finally introduced its first Daytona powered by an in-house movement: the 116520. For reasons unbeknownst to us, these models don’t receive the same attention as the Zenith Daytonas or the modern ceramic versions. It’s hard to understand why when you put one on the wrist—especially when they come like this. The Super-LumiNova white dial on this 2004 example is flawless, and the case has only been lightly polished.