Reference:16520 - Revision history

Admin: site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

2026-09-05T01:20:16Z

site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:20, 5 September 2026
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	<small>[[Reference:daytona\|Daytona]] -> '''16520'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:daytona\|Daytona]] › '''16520'''</small>

	The 16520 is the first automatic Rolex Daytona, produced from 1988 to 2000 with cal 4030, a heavily reworked Zenith El Primero base. Twelve years of production took the Daytona from a slow-moving manual-wind chronograph into the steel sports watch that defined the modern Rolex waitlist era. Seven separately collected dial generations sit inside that run.		The 16520 is the first automatic Rolex Daytona, produced from 1988 to 2000 with cal 4030, a heavily reworked Zenith El Primero base. Twelve years of production took the Daytona from a slow-moving manual-wind chronograph into the steel sports watch that defined the modern Rolex waitlist era. Seven separately collected dial generations sit inside that run.
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	== Core facts ==		== Core facts ==

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable rp-facts"
	\|-		\|-
	! detail		! detail

Admin: site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

2026-09-05T00:36:23Z

site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:36, 5 September 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Daytona 16520 'Zenith' — First Automatic, 1988–2000 \| ~~BezelBase~~		\|title=Rolex Daytona 16520 'Zenith' — First Automatic, 1988–2000 \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=The first automatic Daytona with cal 4030 (Zenith El Primero base), 12-year run from 1988 to 2000. Seven-mark dial progression from MK1 floating Cosmograph porcelain through MK7 Luminova, with Patrizzi sub-branch.		\|description=The first automatic Daytona with cal 4030 (Zenith El Primero base), 12-year run from 1988 to 2000. Seven-mark dial progression from MK1 floating Cosmograph porcelain through MK7 Luminova, with Patrizzi sub-branch.
	\|keywords=Rolex 16520, Zenith Daytona, cal 4030, El Primero, MK1 floating, Patrizzi dial, 4-Liner, Inverted-6, Mazzariol, Povey, Bulang Cattin Collection		\|keywords=Rolex 16520, Zenith Daytona, cal 4030, El Primero, MK1 floating, Patrizzi dial, 4-Liner, Inverted-6, Mazzariol, Povey, Bulang Cattin Collection

Admin: Fact fix: resolve internal Luminova/Super-LumiNova self-contradiction, attribute disputed lume chronology to Fratello vs Rolex Passion Report per hard rule 6

2026-08-09T20:57:24Z

Fact fix: resolve internal Luminova/Super-LumiNova self-contradiction, attribute disputed lume chronology to Fratello vs Rolex Passion Report per hard rule 6

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:57, 9 August 2026
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	R-prefix serials are the first 1988 batch and carry the dial that defines first-year 16520 collecting: the Singer-made Floating Cosmograph porcelain dial. L-prefix arrived in 1989 with the related 4-Liner dial, where the OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line is missing (four lines of text instead of the later five) and the same inverted "6" appears in the hour totaliser. E, N, X, and C prefixes carried the inverted-6 generation through 1990–1992, and the bezel scale shifted in this window from the carry-over 50–200 graduation (with "UNITS PER HOUR" at 3 o'clock) to 60–400 with the legend at 1 o'clock.		R-prefix serials are the first 1988 batch and carry the dial that defines first-year 16520 collecting: the Singer-made Floating Cosmograph porcelain dial. L-prefix arrived in 1989 with the related 4-Liner dial, where the OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line is missing (four lines of text instead of the later five) and the same inverted "6" appears in the hour totaliser. E, N, X, and C prefixes carried the inverted-6 generation through 1990–1992, and the bezel scale shifted in this window from the carry-over 50–200 graduation (with "UNITS PER HOUR" at 3 o'clock) to 60–400 with the legend at 1 o'clock.

	The S-prefix batch (1993) is the production hinge. The bracelet steps from the matte 78360 to the polished-centre 78390, end-links move from 503 to 503B, and the dial moves into the corrected-6 era. T-prefix in 1996 carries the late-tritium dial generation. The U-prefix batch (1997–1998) is the second hinge: tritium gives way to ~~Super-~~LumiNova, separable end-links give way to solid end-links (SEL, integral to the first bracelet link), and the dial moves into the final MK7 layout. A-prefix (1998–1999) and P-prefix (2000) closed out the run on Luminova dials and the SEL bracelet before the 116520 took over.		The S-prefix batch (1993) is the production hinge. The bracelet steps from the matte 78360 to the polished-centre 78390, end-links move from 503 to 503B, and the dial moves into the corrected-6 era. T-prefix in 1996 carries the late-tritium dial generation. The U-prefix batch (1997–1998) is the second hinge: tritium gives way to LumiNova, separable end-links give way to solid end-links (SEL, integral to the first bracelet link), and the dial moves into the final MK7 layout. A-prefix (1998–1999) and P-prefix (2000) closed out the run on Luminova dials and the SEL bracelet before the 116520 took over.

	<span id="movement-notes"></span>		<span id="movement-notes"></span>
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	Late tritium / transitional dials carry the MK6 designation, late T into early U serials from 1996 through 1997. This is the final tritium dial generation before the Luminova switchover.		Late tritium / transitional dials carry the MK6 designation, late T into early U serials from 1996 through 1997. This is the final tritium dial generation before the Luminova switchover.

	The closing MK7 dial ~~is Super-~~LumiNova, SWISS MADE, on late U through P serials from 1998 through 2000~~. Super-LumiNova replaces~~ tritium~~, and~~ the dial reads SWISS MADE without the flanking T markings rather than the SWISS-only marking of the ~~brief~~ LumiNova ~~interim~~. MK7 runs through to the end of 16520 production.		The closing MK7 dial carries LumiNova, SWISS MADE, on late U through P serials from 1998 through 2000, replacing tritium; the dial reads SWISS MADE without the flanking T markings rather than the SWISS-only marking that preceded it. Sources disagree on the exact lume chemistry: Fratello's SWISS-only/SWISS MADE dial-marking framework ties the SWISS MADE stamp to Super-LumiNova, while Philipp Stahl's Rolex Passion Report lume chronology holds Rolex ran LumiNova through 2000 and did not move to Super-LumiNova until afterward, which would keep the whole MK7 run on LumiNova. No 16520-specific source settles it. MK7 runs through to the end of 16520 production.

	The Patrizzi dial, browned sub-dial rings on a mid-1990s watch, is the best-known 16520 sub-branch, named for Osvaldo Patrizzi, whose auction house first catalogued the variant.		The Patrizzi dial, browned sub-dial rings on a mid-1990s watch, is the best-known 16520 sub-branch, named for Osvaldo Patrizzi, whose auction house first catalogued the variant.
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	=== Cream-lume vs white-lume transition ===		=== Cream-lume vs white-lume transition ===

	The cream-lume question belongs to the 116520. That reference carries the documented cream-lume early dials (2000 to roughly 2003), the white-lume late dials (from around 2008), and the APH kerning anomaly that widens the gap in the COSMOGRAPH text on certain examples. The 16520 has none of it. Tritium through 1997, ~~Super-~~LumiNova from 1998 to 2000, and that is the whole luminous-material story here.		The cream-lume question belongs to the 116520. That reference carries the documented cream-lume early dials (2000 to roughly 2003), the white-lume late dials (from around 2008), and the APH kerning anomaly that widens the gap in the COSMOGRAPH text on certain examples. The 16520 has none of it. Tritium through 1997, LumiNova from 1998 to 2000, and that is the whole luminous-material story here.

	=== Platinum 16520 prototypes ===		=== Platinum 16520 prototypes ===

Admin: Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

2026-08-08T22:51:56Z

Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:51, 8 August 2026
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	Late tritium / transitional dials carry the MK6 designation, late T into early U serials from 1996 through 1997. This is the final tritium dial generation before the Luminova switchover.		Late tritium / transitional dials carry the MK6 designation, late T into early U serials from 1996 through 1997. This is the final tritium dial generation before the Luminova switchover.

	The closing MK7 dial is Super-LumiNova, SWISS MADE, on late U through P serials from 1998 through 2000. Super-LumiNova replaces tritium, and the dial reads SWISS MADE without the flanking T markings ~~— the marking corpus sources tie to Super-LumiNova~~ rather than the ~~earlier~~ SWISS-only LumiNova interim. MK7 runs through to the end of 16520 production.		The closing MK7 dial is Super-LumiNova, SWISS MADE, on late U through P serials from 1998 through 2000. Super-LumiNova replaces tritium, and the dial reads SWISS MADE without the flanking T markings rather than the SWISS-only marking of the brief LumiNova interim. MK7 runs through to the end of 16520 production.

	The Patrizzi dial, browned sub-dial rings on a mid-1990s watch, is the best-known 16520 sub-branch, named for Osvaldo Patrizzi, whose auction house first catalogued the variant.		The Patrizzi dial, browned sub-dial rings on a mid-1990s watch, is the best-known 16520 sub-branch, named for Osvaldo Patrizzi, whose auction house first catalogued the variant.

Admin: Fix internal contradiction: MK7 dial was called 'Luminova' then 'Super-LumiNova' for the same generation in adjacent sentences. The dial's own stated SWISS MADE marking (vs SWISS-only) is the corpus's dial-text-anchored marker for Super-LumiNova per Fratello's 16570 buying guide, so aligned both sentences.

2026-08-08T22:48:05Z

Fix internal contradiction: MK7 dial was called 'Luminova' then 'Super-LumiNova' for the same generation in adjacent sentences. The dial's own stated SWISS MADE marking (vs SWISS-only) is the corpus's dial-text-anchored marker for Super-LumiNova per Fratello's 16570 buying guide, so aligned both sentences.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:48, 8 August 2026
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	Late tritium / transitional dials carry the MK6 designation, late T into early U serials from 1996 through 1997. This is the final tritium dial generation before the Luminova switchover.		Late tritium / transitional dials carry the MK6 designation, late T into early U serials from 1996 through 1997. This is the final tritium dial generation before the Luminova switchover.

	The closing MK7 dial is ~~Luminova~~, SWISS MADE, on late U through P serials from 1998 through 2000. Super-LumiNova replaces tritium and the dial reads SWISS MADE without the flanking T markings. MK7 runs through to the end of 16520 production.		The closing MK7 dial is Super-LumiNova, SWISS MADE, on late U through P serials from 1998 through 2000. Super-LumiNova replaces tritium, and the dial reads SWISS MADE without the flanking T markings — the marking corpus sources tie to Super-LumiNova rather than the earlier SWISS-only LumiNova interim. MK7 runs through to the end of 16520 production.

	The Patrizzi dial, browned sub-dial rings on a mid-1990s watch, is the best-known 16520 sub-branch, named for Osvaldo Patrizzi, whose auction house first catalogued the variant.		The Patrizzi dial, browned sub-dial rings on a mid-1990s watch, is the best-known 16520 sub-branch, named for Osvaldo Patrizzi, whose auction house first catalogued the variant.

Admin: Fix bezel legend position: MK1 16520 bezel reads UNITS PER HOUR at 3 o'clock, not 9 o'clock. Source: Ross Povey, Revolution, 2018 (cited by this article's own Sources)

2026-08-08T22:46:43Z

Fix bezel legend position: MK1 16520 bezel reads UNITS PER HOUR at 3 o'clock, not 9 o'clock. Source: Ross Povey, Revolution, 2018 (cited by this article's own Sources)

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:46, 8 August 2026
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	MK1 is the Floating Cosmograph porcelain dial, R-serial production from 1988. The variant picture across the rest of the run gets tangled. The first-year hierarchy stays simple, and MK1 sits at the top of it.		MK1 is the Floating Cosmograph porcelain dial, R-serial production from 1988. The variant picture across the rest of the run gets tangled. The first-year hierarchy stays simple, and MK1 sits at the top of it.

	The MK2 Floating 4-Liner ran on L-serial production through 1989 and into 1990. The OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line is missing, leaving four lines of dial text where later dials carry five — the source of the collector name. Singer made the dial; the inverted 6 carries over. Surviving examples pair the 4-Liner dial with the early bezel that reads "UNITS PER HOUR" at 9 o'clock and graduates 50–200, a carry-over from the manual-wind 6265 era. Davide Garbati's photography of the Cattin Collection (2020) captures the rare bezel-dial combination.		The MK2 Floating 4-Liner ran on L-serial production through 1989 and into 1990. The OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line is missing, leaving four lines of dial text where later dials carry five — the source of the collector name. Singer made the dial; the inverted 6 carries over. Surviving examples pair the 4-Liner dial with the early bezel that reads "UNITS PER HOUR" at 3 o'clock and graduates 50–200, a carry-over from the manual-wind 6265 era. Davide Garbati's photography of the Cattin Collection (2020) captures the rare bezel-dial combination.

	The MK3 generation restores OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED on an Inverted 6 dial, running on E through C serials from 1990 through 1992. The dial moves to Rolex production, the OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line returns, and all five lines space evenly. The inverted "6" in the hour totaliser carries through with four hash marks per five-minute subsection. The bezel transitions inside the MK3 window from the early 50–200 scale with "UNITS PER HOUR" at 3 o'clock to the 60–400 scale with the legend at 1 o'clock; Povey documents three distinct bezel marks across that range.		The MK3 generation restores OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED on an Inverted 6 dial, running on E through C serials from 1990 through 1992. The dial moves to Rolex production, the OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line returns, and all five lines space evenly. The inverted "6" in the hour totaliser carries through with four hash marks per five-minute subsection. The bezel transitions inside the MK3 window from the early 50–200 scale with "UNITS PER HOUR" at 3 o'clock to the 60–400 scale with the legend at 1 o'clock; Povey documents three distinct bezel marks across that range.

Admin: Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

2026-08-08T22:18:41Z

Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

Show changes

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-08-04T00:17:33Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:17, 4 August 2026
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	\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:20:06Z		\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:20:06Z
	\|modified_time=2026-07-~~18T12~~:51:~~55Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-08-04T00:09:04Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
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Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-08-04T00:09:04Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:09, 4 August 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Daytona 16520 'Zenith' — First Automatic, 1988–2000 \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex Daytona 16520 'Zenith' — First Automatic, 1988–2000 \| BezelBase
	\|description=The first automatic Daytona with cal 4030 (Zenith El Primero base), 12-year run from 1988 to 2000. Seven-mark dial progression from MK1 floating Cosmograph porcelain through MK7 Luminova, with Patrizzi sub-branch.		\|description=The first automatic Daytona with cal 4030 (Zenith El Primero base), 12-year run from 1988 to 2000. Seven-mark dial progression from MK1 floating Cosmograph porcelain through MK7 Luminova, with Patrizzi sub-branch.
	\|keywords=Rolex 16520, Zenith Daytona, cal 4030, El Primero, MK1 floating, Patrizzi dial, 4-Liner, Inverted-6, Mazzariol, Povey, Bulang Cattin Collection		\|keywords=Rolex 16520, Zenith Daytona, cal 4030, El Primero, MK1 floating, Patrizzi dial, 4-Liner, Inverted-6, Mazzariol, Povey, Bulang Cattin Collection
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:20:06Z		\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:20:06Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~29T01~~:16:~~26Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-07-18T12:51:55Z
	\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large		\|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
	}}		}}

Klaudiusz: Internal linking: related references + component links

2026-07-18T12:51:55Z

Internal linking: related references + component links

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:51, 18 July 2026
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	Specific landmark prices on the 16520 itself sit below the headline manual-wind numbers. The Antiquorum 2008 Sport Watch sale lot featured in Hodinkee Part 1 sold at USD 31,200. A 16520 4-Liner fetched USD 43,750 and a 16520 Patrizzi USD 31,250 in the Fortuna Auction 2018 sale. These are catalogue results, not the ceiling. Porcelain MK1 examples have surfaced at higher figures in private treaty and at the major Geneva and New York rounds since.		Specific landmark prices on the 16520 itself sit below the headline manual-wind numbers. The Antiquorum 2008 Sport Watch sale lot featured in Hodinkee Part 1 sold at USD 31,200. A 16520 4-Liner fetched USD 43,750 and a 16520 Patrizzi USD 31,250 in the Fortuna Auction 2018 sale. These are catalogue results, not the ceiling. Porcelain MK1 examples have surfaced at higher figures in private treaty and at the major Geneva and New York rounds since.


			== Related references ==

			* [[Reference:16518\|Daytona 16518]] — Yellow Gold Zenith (1988–2000)
			* [[Reference:16523\|Daytona 16523]] — 1988–2000
			* [[Reference:16528\|Daytona 16528]] — 1988–2000
			* [[Reference:16519\|Daytona 16519]] — White Gold Zenith (1989–2000)
			* [[Reference:116518\|Daytona 116518]] — 2000–2015
			* [[Reference:116520\|Daytona 116520]] — Steel, Cal 4130 (2000–2016)

			See also the [[Reference:daytona\|Daytona family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==