Penelope Andrews
Head of Department
Lot 11
Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic chronograph bracelet watch with porcelain 'floating' Cosmograph dial Porcelain 'Floating' Cosmograph 'Zenith' Daytona, Ref: 16520, Purchased 28th June 1989
11 December 2025, 14:30 GMT
London, New Bond Street£40,000 - £60,000
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Jonathan Darracott
Global Head
Charles Dower
Head of sale, Knightsbridge
Sarah Fergusson
Senior Specialist
George Kidwell
Senior Cataloguer
Edith Chong
Cataloguer
Joselyn Sizer
Sale Coordinator
Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic chronograph bracelet watch with porcelain 'floating' Cosmograph dial
Model: Porcelain 'Floating' Cosmograph 'Zenith' Daytona
Reference: 16520
Date: Purchased 28th June 1989
Movement: 31-jewel Cal.4030 automatic, adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, No.11665
Dial: White porcelain, 'floating' Cosmograph beneath 12, red Daytona, polished bullet hour markers with luminous inserts, black outer 1/5th second divisions, black bordered subsidiary dials at 3, 6 and 9 for seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour recording, polished baton hands with black and luminous inserts, centre chronograph hand
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back, screw down shouldered crown flanked by twin screw down pushers, fixed calibrated bezel, No.R901026
Strap/Bracelet: Fitted 78360 Oyster link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp, stamped M6
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 39mm
Accompaniments: Rolex box, outer card, punched Guarantee, brochures
Reference: 16520
Date: Purchased 28th June 1989
Movement: 31-jewel Cal.4030 automatic, adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, No.11665
Dial: White porcelain, 'floating' Cosmograph beneath 12, red Daytona, polished bullet hour markers with luminous inserts, black outer 1/5th second divisions, black bordered subsidiary dials at 3, 6 and 9 for seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour recording, polished baton hands with black and luminous inserts, centre chronograph hand
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back, screw down shouldered crown flanked by twin screw down pushers, fixed calibrated bezel, No.R901026
Strap/Bracelet: Fitted 78360 Oyster link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp, stamped M6
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 39mm
Accompaniments: Rolex box, outer card, punched Guarantee, brochures
Footnotes
The extremely rare and sought after dial on this example has the nickname 'Porcelain' due to its translucent gloss finish. The dial is coated with a transparent finish over the gloss white that gives a reflection and a three dimensional quality to the text printed on top of it. Additionally, the "Cosmograph" term given to the chronograph is placed lower than later versions, giving this dial variation the 'floating' moniker. This distinctive style of dial was only used for a very limited run making it much sought after by connoisseurs.
As well as a great dial, the present Rolex Daytona 16520 also contains the much celebrated calibre 4030 based on the Zenith El Primero movement. As the first automatic in the Rolex Daytona range the enthusiasm for this model persists today and is only growing as watch collectors compete to complete their Daytona collections.