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The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona 16523 is powered by the Zenith El Primero-based Rolex caliber 4030 automatic chronograph movement. Cosmograph Daytonas from the 1990s are collectible in the extreme. Due to the limited capacity of Zenith's El Primero production in Le Locle, the Rolex Daytona of the 1990s was constrained in production and scarce at authorized dealers. Zenith's total El Primero production capacity of roughly 25,000 units per year was divided between Rolex, Zenith's other watch brand clients, and Zenith's own chronographs.
The basic design launched with the 1988 Rolex Daytona persists to this day, and the appearance of this 1994 (W-series) Rolex Daytona is nearly indistinguishable from a 2018 Rolex Cosmograph.
Principle differences include an older Rolex 78363 Oyster bracelet with stamped Oyster clasp, hollow gold center links, and hollow steel-gold end links. This watch's yellow gold tachymeter scale retains all of its original definition and lacquer features. A screw down Rolex Triplock crown and chronograph pushers keep the Daytona Beach surf out of your chronograph.
The dial of this Daytona 16523 exhibits a stunning gold sunburst pattern with black registers and bright red "Daytona" script. All appliqué indices are rendered in 18-karat yellow gold to match the dial and 18-karat yellow gold hands. Rolex's celebrated crown logo likewise receives solid gold composition. As an original 1994 Rolex factory dial, this W-series Daytona dial incorporated factory tritium luminescent paint that has faded and assumed a light ecru patina.
Under the dial sits a Zenith El Primero calibers 4000 doing business as Rolex's caliber 4030.
These movements were built by Zenith watchmakers in a separate workshop within Zenith's Le Locle factory. Basic movement architecture remains, but Rolex re-engineered the El Primero to beat at 28,800 vibrations per hour rather than 36,000 VpH. Secondary changes included the removal of most date display components, the addition of a free sprung balance with Breguet overcool hairspring, and a revised Rolex "Perpetual" winding system that simplified and reinforced the El Primero's excessively complex and service-intensive winding apparatus. Finally, each Rolex-Zenith caliber 4030 received certification from the COSC as a Swiss chronometer.
This 1990s Zenith powered Rolex Daytona features a 40mm stainless steel case with an 18k yellow gold bezel surrounding a gold dial on a Rolex 904L stainless steel and 18k yellow gold Oyster bracelet with folding buckle.
Functions include hours, minutes, small-seconds, 52-hour power reserve, COSC Swiss chronometer certification, 100-meter water resistance, and a column wheel chronograph. The watch also measures 12.3mm in thickness and 47.2mm from lug-to-lug.
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