12 Rolex Fascinating and Very Rare, Daytona, Automatic Chronograph Wristwatch, in White Gold, Diamond-Set Grossular Underline Dial, With Full Set, Reference 116 519

Estimate: €40,000 –⁠ 80,000

Sold (Premium)€71,500

Model: Daytona
Reference: 116 519
Case Material: White Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 2001
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 4130
Case N°: K194414
Dimensions: 40 mm
Signed: Dial, Movement and Case
Accessories: Box, Warranty and Booklets

Over the years Rolex has and continues to experiment with many different dial designs with a variety of hard stones. Due to their fragile nature, many of these dials broke during the production which increases the manufacturing cost, so these watches are highly sought after by collectors like the present one: the grossular. Natural products are always unique and that is one of the alluring aspects of stone dials, in that each one is unique and therefore special for the owner. The Daytona Perpetual has been commercially available with five different hard stone dials — sodalite, grossular garnet, chrysoprase, turquoise and meteorite as well as a number of hues of mother-of-pearl. Reference 116 519 such as the present lot is powered by the automatic caliber 4130: unveiled in 2000, this is Rolex’s first in-house chronograph movement and is the same also used in reference 116 520. The present lot is a very rare and fascinating white-gold Daytona automatic wristwatch fitted with the extremely rare grossular hard stone dial and the uncommon “Underline” signature. This burgundy color dial shimmers and exhibits a rich complex of red shades, further enhanced with eight diamond hour markers set within its white-gold chains. The white-gold bezel presents the tachometer scale which can measure speeds up to 400 units per hour. The extreme rarity of this watch is further accentuated by the fact that it is a 4130 Rolex caliber which provides perpetual self-winding for those wearing these watches. These combine characteristics make the present example one of the most appealing 116 519 Daytona ever produced. It seems one of the only few examples ever seen. Offered in excellent overall condition and accompanied with its original punched guarantee, this watch is a very unique opportunity to own one of the rarest cosmograph Daytona with automatic movement on the watch market.