Insider: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520. Celebrating 50 Years of an Iconic Reference. - High Quality Replica Watches Review in Your Trusty Time

Launched in 1963, this is a Rolex reference that needs no introduction or long lines to describe it. Fifty years ago, one of the most iconic replica watches of all time was born. All replica watchlifestylers know this replica watch very well, as there’s a wealth of knowledge and amazing content —in cyberspace and in books— regarding the history of this amazing reference that has already been published; therefore, we will focus on sharing some nice images of this wonderful iconic replica watch and give you some basic reference information.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is definitely one of our all-time favorite chronographs; however, the lack of a date aperture is a deal breaker for us. They are elegant, refined and iconic.

Any replica watchlifestyler can spot one from a block away and the replica watch spotting always turns into a nice conversation as this is still a ‘grail’ replica watch for many collectors. We should say that there’s almost a ‘cult following’ fueled by Italian collectors and by the many intricacies and variations that this replica watch has had over half a century.

For those that wear this amazing reference, thank you for paying tribute to one of the most beautiful replica watches ever made in the history of replica watchmaking.

This reference, originally launched as ref. 6239 in 1963, has undergone several changes to its bezel, pushers, dial configurations, movements and reference numbers. A true evolution of a classic replica watch. For instance, the original ref. 6239 featured a stainless steel bezel graduated to 300 units per hour —years later the bezel was changed to 200 units per hour— and the dial didn’t make any allusion to ‘Daytona’, the home of car racing in the U.S.

In 1965, when ref. 6240 was presented, the dial configuration had
changed from ‘Cosmograph’ to ‘Oyster Cosmograph’, the pushers were
changed from pump to screw-down, its water resistance was improved and
the bezel changed from solid stainless steel to a bezel with a stainless
steel ring and a black acrylic graduated insert with numbers in white.

Since then, there had been numerous references and changes made to this replica watch including changes to the case size —from 37 mm to 40 mm— and the movement. The replica watch was originally fitted with the manual-winding Valjoux calibre 72 and from there, it went to the automatic self-winding Zenith 400 on ref. 16520 —known as Rolex calibre 4030. Today, the Daytona is fitted with a newer and improved Rolex in-house movement calibre 4130. With all of its variations, the Daytona is a replica watch with perhaps the most fascinating and difficult to master history in the horological world. Every time we think we’ve read it all, there’s a new article being published with another interesting set of facts regarding this timepiece.

By the way, a great source for information on rare, unusual Rolex replica watches including extremely rare Daytonas is Stefano Mazzariol’s blog.

Today, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is still as timeless and classic as it was 50 years ago. Its coveted white dial makes replica watchlifestylers travel around the world for one, pay special premiums over the retail price and even put their names on prepaid waiting lists for one. In reality, if you are in the know and you are a replica watchlifestyler with a good network of collectors, finding one is way easier than what most people think.

Now, if you want to get a rare vintage piece like a Rolex Cosmograph Yacht Master ref. 6242 or a ref. 6263 ‘Albino’, then you really need to dig underneath the stones or you can call one of your close friends in Firenze, Roma, Napoli or Livorno.