Case #0038 — Pre-Owned Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (Ref. 116520)

Title:
Case #0038 — Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (Ref. 116520) — Box Only

Price:
$27,997.00 USD

🧭 Character
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona needs no introduction — but the steel 116520 stands apart as the generation that defined the modern era. Produced from 2000 to 2016, it was the first Daytona powered by Rolex’s fully in-house chronograph caliber, the 4130, which improved performance, reliability, and service intervals while streamlining the movement by 20% fewer components.

With its 40mm Oyster case, crisp white dial, and polished tachymeter bezel, the 116520 is equally at home in the pit lane or at a black-tie event. This example retains its original box and remains in good pre-owned condition, offering collectors a rare chance to secure an in-house steel Daytona at a strong value.

🧾 Provenance

• Reference: 116520

• Case Size: 40mm

• Movement: Rolex Caliber 4130 automatic chronograph

• Dial: White with luminous hour markers

• Bezel: Fixed stainless steel with engraved tachymeter scale

• Bracelet: Stainless steel Oyster bracelet with folding clasp

• Water Resistance: 100m

• Crystal: Sapphire

• Included: Original Rolex box only (no papers)

• Condition: Good pre-owned — honest wear consistent with age, clean dial and crystal

• Performance: Running within spec; all functions tested

🧑🎤 Celebrity Provenance
The stainless steel Daytona has been spotted on Tom Kristensen, the nine-time Le Mans champion; actor Brad Pitt; musician and collector John Mayer; and many other motorsport and entertainment figures. Its history is inseparably tied to Rolex’s decades-long role as the official timekeeper of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, making it a symbol of precision and endurance.

🕵️ Story
The 116520 marked a turning point in Daytona history — the end of Zenith El Primero–powered models and the start of Rolex’s fully in-house chronograph production. Collectors appreciate it as the “last of the slim-case” Daytonas before the subtle size increase of the ceramic bezel era. The Caliber 4130 remains a technical highlight in the brand’s history, with a vertical clutch system, longer power reserve, and fewer moving parts than its predecessor.

Case #0038 is offered with its original Rolex presentation box in good pre-owned condition, making it an attractive choice for collectors who value wearability, heritage, and mechanical innovation.

📜 BST Files Quote
"Every Daytona is a chapter in the same story — the chase for speed and the pursuit of perfect timing. The 116520 is the edition that brought the story entirely in-house." — BST Case Notes