This spring, Monaco Legend Group will offer one of the most historically significant and unique modern Rolex watches ever made; a platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 16516. Powered by the legendary Zenith El Primero calibre 4030 and cased in solid platinum, it is one of just four examples known to exist. Among those, it holds a special place in history, as this was the very first watch from the now-famous 16516 quartet to ever surface publicly.
With its unique black Tahitian mother-of-pearl dial, applied Arabic numerals, and very importantly its full complement of original box and papers, this timepiece represents the rarest combination of material, design, and provenance in the world of modern Daytonas. It will be offered as a star lot in our April 2026 Exclusive Timepieces auction in Monte-Carlo.
Made for a Chairman
Patrick Heiniger Rolex Former CEO
The platinum 16516 was never a commercial release. It does not appear in any catalogue, brochure or product list. Instead, the watch was conceived as a special commission under the leadership of Patrick Heiniger, Rolex’s third CEO and the man widely credited with turning the company into the vertically integrated powerhouse it is today. Heiniger was known for his personal love of platinum watches, as demonstrated by the incredible pièce unique platinum Yacht-Master commemorating the 10 millionth officially certified Rolex chronometer that we offered at auction in 2023 (result). Commissioned for himself, the Yacht-Master is a one-off masterpiece with full platinum construction, a unique dial with sapphire and diamond indexes, and a specially engraved rotor marking this historic milestone.
Patrick Heiniger Personal Watch, The Unique Platinum Yacht-Master, Sold At MonacoLegend in April 2023 for € 2.316.800
Heiniger made four examples of the Zenith-powered Daytona in platinum for private gifting. The present watch was one of those four and was given as a personal wedding gift to Francesca Gobbi, a member of the Gobbi 1842 family, one of Rolex’s most storied Italian retailers, and her husband Romain Sardou, the French novelist and screenwriter. The engraved case back reads “Francesca – Romain, 16.10.1999”, commemorating their wedding day.
Caseback of the watch showing the commemorative engraving
Over the years, Sardou was often photographed wearing the watch, which accounts for its honest and well-documented history of use.
Romain Sardou Enjoying The Unique Platinum Daytona
A Watch That Made History
This very watch is not just one of the four platinum 16516s ever made, it was the first to reveal the existence of the reference to the world. When it appeared at auction for the first time in 2018, it stunned collectors and experts alike. Its platinum case, confirmed by hallmarks on the lugs and inside the case back, is matched by a platinum folding clasp marked with a “U” production code for 1998/1999. The watch also features matching platinum screw-down pushers and crown, and an engraved reference number between the lugs confirming the unique “16516” designation; with the final digit “6” used by Rolex to indicate platinum.
Inside, the watch is fitted with the Rolex calibre 4030, a heavily modified Zenith El Primero movement, and the same calibre used across all automatic Daytonas from 1988 until the arrival of the in-house calibre 4130 in 2000. Collectors today recognise the “Zenith Daytonas” as a golden era of modern Rolex collecting, and this platinum 16516 sits at the very peak of that period.
This piece is incredibly important as it has a full set of papers and accessories, including punched warranty that states this special reference and numbered hangtag, which sets it apart from the other known examples.
Finally, the dial has a unique and very special twist. The bottom counter is inverted, whereby the mother of pearl has been positioned so as to perfectly contrast with the rest of the dial, when one moves the watch through different lights. A truly unique feature, never seen before on any other mother of pearl dial, which adds on to the incredible coolness of the watch.
One View Of The Unique Mother Of Pearl Dial ( Counter At Six is Brown)
Another View Of The Unique Mother Of Pearl Dial ( Counter At Six is Multi-Colored)
The Known 16516s
Only four platinum Daytona's ref.16516 are known to have been made and have appeared publicly. Here is their chronological order of appearance in the market:
Black Mother of Pearl Dial (this watch): Sotheby’s 2018. Sold for HK$6.84 million (approx. $871,000 USD)
Lapis Lazuli Dial: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, July 2020. Sold for HK$25.375 million (approx. $3.27 million USD).
Turquoise Dial: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 2021. Sold for HK$24.375 million (approx. $3.14 million USD).
Diamond-Set Mother of Pearl Dial. Documented but never publicly sold.
A European First
This will mark the first time that any Rolex Daytona reference 16516 has been offered at auction in Europe. It represents an extraordinary opportunity for collectors to acquire a watch of mythological status and not only a true unicorn in terms of material and movement, but a timepiece with personal provenance and landmark significance.
Standing out above the other known examples, thanks to its incredible provenance and full collector set, it is, simply put, one of the most important modern Rolex watches ever produced.
This April 25 & 26 at the Exclusive Timepieces Auction in Monaco! Save the date.
To enquire about this lot please email: info@monacolegendgroup.com
