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The Rolex Daytona model, since its initial release, has been at the forefront of the market as the most desirable chronograph in production. Prior to the introduction of the automatic-winding Daytonas in 1988, all previous Rolex chronographs had been manually-wound. Rolex decided to outsource their movement for the Ref. 16xxx series of watches, looking for the best movement available. and settled on the best that was available at the time: the famous They used this movement as the basis and then fortified it, performing approximately 200 modifications to the base movement to meet the expectations prestigious of the Wilsdorf group. This created the workhorse Rolex 4030 movement that was put in production for an era of 12 years. In this Reference, Rolex also incorporated the more resilient sapphire crystals, a contributing factor to the increased depth rating guaranteed at 100m or 330ft.
The piece that we have here, Reference 16518, stands out amongst its more popular sibling Reference 16528 with a somewhat unusual lug design. The 16518 features 'fillers' within the lugs to allow for a more seamless design when fitted to leather straps. Dating to circa 1997, this example comes to us in strong overall condition. The yellow gold Oyster case and matching yellow gold bezel shows normal wear from age with fully-intact black paint within the engraved markings and clear hallmarks on the underside of the lugs. Inside, the gloss white dial is exceptional. Rather than the more common baton-style indices, this example features applied 'Arabic' indices — which have taken on the colloquial name amongst the collecting community as a 'racing' dial. Combined with black subsidiary register rings, it absolutely has an attractive sporting look to it. Being from the mid-1990, it also has an 'Inverted 6' within the 6:00 subsidiary register ring, as well as applied Tritium-filled indices at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, and a perfectly matching handset. The brown leather strap shows just normal wear with plenty of life left and is fitted to a yellow gold fliplock clasp.
Additionally, this piece is accompanied by its outer box, lacquered wood inner box, booklets, and papers confirming the white dial and dated 7/1/1999.
These neo-vintage pieces still present exceptional value in todays market and are becoming a modern classic in a big way. These factory leather-strap pieces in particular, offer fantastic value next to modern offerings.
Condition Report & Details
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Shipping, Returns, & Warranty
Every Oliver & Clarke timepiece comes with a one-year mechanical warranty starting from the date of delivery. We ensure all watches are in wonderful working condition and are ready for daily wear. Many have been fully serviced by our team of watchmakers.
Please note:
- Due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, they may not keep time as accurately as when new, nor as precisely as quartz or electronic devices.
- We do not guarantee water resistance and do not warranty against moisture or water damage. Deliberate exposure to water or steam is not recommended.
Warranty Exclusions:
- Internal or external damage caused by accidents, mishandling, abuse, modifications, or services performed by anyone other than our authorized personnel.
- Our warranty is non-transferable.
The Oliver & Clarke Guarantee
At Oliver & Clarke, we meticulously vet each watch to ensure its authenticity and quality. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and our mission is to help you find the perfect timepiece. If you have any questions, we are here to assist you promptly.
Our Guarantee:
- Each timepiece is thoroughly evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our expert team before it is offered for sale.
- We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise stated.
- The authenticity of each watch is guaranteed in perpetuity.
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From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.
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