*Unpolished* 1991 Rolex 'Zenith' Daytona 18K YG (Ref. 16528) Champagne Mk. III "Tiffany & Co." Dial

First introduced in 1963 the Rolex Daytona has remained a sought-after stable within the Rolex product range. Designed with professional racecar drivers in mind, the Daytona’s precision chronograph and tachymeter bezel allowed drivers to accurately measure speeds up to 400 kilometers or miles per hour. The release of the Daytona came just after Rolex had become the official timekeeper of the Daytona racetrack and the name evolved as a way for the brand to highlight its connection to the celebrated race.

Early Daytona models featured a manual-wind Valjoux 72-based column-wheel chronograph movement. This was in use until 1988 when Rolex released the ref. 16520 with an automatic “self-winding” movement. Rolex outsourced this moment, utilizing the Zenith 400 movement, originally manufactured for the “Zenith El-Primero.” For use in the ref. 16520, Rolex required approximately 200 modifications to the Zenith movement, which remained in use for twelve years. As a result, Daytonas from this period are commonly referred to as “Zenith Daytonas.” In this reference, Rolex also incorporated more durable sapphire crystals, helping to increase the depth rating to a guaranteed 100m or 330ft.

“Tiffany & Co.” signed Rolex watches are the elusive and forever desirable variants of our favorite models offered by the horological house. Beginning in the late 1950s, Tiffany & Co. began printing their name on the dials of watches from various Swiss brands that were sold through their retail locations. Though they worked with a variety of brands in this era, the “Tiffany & Co.” co-branded Rolex are by far the most talked about, well-known, and collected amongst the lot, and for good reason. The relationship between Tiffany and Rolex carried on until the 1990s when Tiffany & Co. entered into an exclusive partnership with Patek Philippe. Interestingly, the Tiffany & Co. logos were printed by hand at the Tiffany Location in New York City, not by Rolex.