*Unpolished* 2009 Rolex Daytona (Ref. 116520) Black "APH" Dial

Rolex first introduced the ref. 6239 Cosmograph in 1963 in steel, 14k, and 18k yellow gold with a design solely focused on automobile racing. The Units Per Hour bezel allowed for the tracking and measuring of average speed and lap times making for a truly useful tool for racing drivers in the 20th century. Rolex, being the same marketing powerhouse back then as they are today, knew the American market would be their most effective demographic as racing in America was on the rise in the 60s-70s. Effectively, in 1964 the Rolex Cosmograph was branded “Daytona” after the famous race The 24hrs of Daytona, and the rest is history. 

The Rolex Daytona ref. 116520 is truly a modern classic that perfectly balances the embodiment of the classic Daytona heritage while showcasing the natural and necessary evolution of the model. The Daytona ref. 116520 directly succeeded the widely celebrated Zenith-era Daytonas, and brought forth its very own era which includes the very first in-house chronograph movement from Rolex, the caliber 4130. There were a few different dial variations throughout the production of the reference, however, one of the most talked about is the "APH" dial seen in both white and black dial versions. The APH dial exhibits a slight separation in the last three letters of the "Cosmograph" text on the dial, a subtle yet note-worthy detail.