*Mint* 2000 Rolex Zenith Daytona (Ref. 16520) Black Dial "P-Serial" W/ Serialized Hangtag

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.

The very last few "Zenith-Era" Rolex Daytonas were produced bearing a serial starting with the letter P, these extremely elusive models are incredibly sought-after amongst collectors for both the uncommon nature as well as being the last non-inhouse movement utilized by Rolex. The low production numbers for the P-Serial ref. 16520 is primarily due to the fact that Rolex also introduced the successor to the Zenith Daytona later that very same year with the ref. 116520, which introduced the first in-house chronograph movement from Rolex.