Ultra rare platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with lapis lazuli hardstone dial set a new record at the auction, which was held in Hong Kong …
Sotheby’s called this watch “incredibly historically important and unique”, while it managed to earn $3.27 million, which is three to six times more than the value assigned to it before the auction took place. This unique Rolex was produced in 1999 at the very end of the period during which Rolex used the Zenith El Primero automatic mechanism in its Daytona models.
Rolex Daytona
Rolex replaced Zenith mechanism with its own automatic chronograph in 2000. What makes this model so rare and special is its case and the material used for its dial. It is the only such chronograph that has appeared at the auction, and according to the jewelry house, Cosmograph Daytona models with a platinum case, practically do not appear on the market.
Offered by a private collector, this watch is only the second copy to carry the reference 16516. The second model has a dial created from black mother-of-pearl, and it was sold at auction two years ago, at a price of $872,100.
Rolex Daytona
In the official description of the watch, the auction house Sotheby’s says: “While Rolex produced automatic Daytona models only from stainless steel, yellow and white gold or a combination of steel and gold for many years, only one customer managed to get a unique masterpiece in 1999.”
By the way, the record for all Rolex Daytona models is held by Paul Newman’s model, Paul Newman Daytona, which was sold at auction at a price of $17.75 million three years ago.
Rolex Daytona
