THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 16528
YEAR: 1995
BOX/PAPERS: YES/YES
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

This Rolex Daytona 16528 marks an important chapter in Rolex's history - the Zenith era - creating a blend of Rolex's iconic design language and the technical prowess of Zenith's Calibre 4030 - this particular reference boasting an 18K Yellow Gold construction and a contrasting black dial.

The Reference 16528's narrative is deeply intertwined with Rolex’s partnership with Zenith. Housing the El Primero movement, which Zenith had expertly crafted, the watch operates at a frequency of 36,000 A/h, however Rolex made certain modifications to this movement, reducing its beat rate and removing the date function, thereby creating the Rolex caliber 4030. This collaboration between two giants in the watch industry ensures the 16528 is as technically impressive as it is visually captivating.

Visually, the black dial contrasts beautifully with the 18k yellow gold, creating a play of light and shadow. This striking black dial is not just about aesthetics; it enhances legibility with its gold luminescent hour markers and subdials, facilitating time reading even in dimly lit settings. The tri-compax layout, emblematic of the Daytona series, offers a 12-hour counter at the 9 o’clock position, a continuous seconds subdial at 6 o’clock, and a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock - each surrounded with a stunning gold-stroke finish.

Beyond its dial, the Oyster case, measuring a versatile 40mm, seamlessly blends robustness with elegance. The screw-down pushers and Twinlock crown ensure the watch remains waterproof, while the tachymetric scale on its bezel (used for measuring speed over a known distance) adds to its strong motorsport heritage.

The Rolex Zenith Daytona 16528 in 18k yellow gold might be an impressive example, however this particular offering is made exceedingly rarer being a full-set in stunning condition with a full and sharp case.