Rolex
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520
“Zenith Daytona”
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (reference 16520) is a 40 mm stainless steel watch. It runs on the automatic caliber 4030 with a 54-hour power reserve and is water resistant to 100 m. It was made from 1988 to 2000.
Specifications
Case
- Reference
- 16520
- Nickname
- Zenith Daytona
- Collection
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Case size
- 40 mm
- Thickness
- 12.6 mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
- Bracelet / strap
- Oyster, stainless steel bracelet
Dial and bezel
- Bezel
- Steel tachymeter bezel
Movement
- Movement
- Automatic
- Caliber
- 4030
- Power reserve
- 54 hours
- Frequency
- 28,800 vph
- Jewels
- 31
- Functions
- Chronograph, Tachymeter
Production
- Production
- 1988–2000
Dial versions
This reference was made with these dials and finishes.
16520 Inverted 6
Inverted 6 sub-dial (Mk3) · “Inverted 6”
16520 Patrizzi
Patrizzi (oxidised subdial rings) · “Patrizzi”
16520 Black
Standard dial
16520 Floating Cosmograph
Floating Cosmograph (Mk1 porcelain) · “Floating Cosmograph”
16520 Panda
Standard dial, Panda · “Panda”
How it compares within the Cosmograph Daytona family
Side by side with other references in the same collection, from the catalog.
| Reference | Size | Material | Dial | Caliber | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16520 (This watch) | 40 mm | Stainless steel | — | 4030 | 1988–2000 |
| 126500LN | 40 mm | Oystersteel | — | 4131 | 2023– |
| 126502 | 40 mm | Rolesium (Oystersteel/platinum) | White grand feu enamel | 4131 | 2026– |
| 126505 | 40 mm | 18k Everose gold | — | 4131 | 2023– |
| 126509 | 40 mm | 18k white gold | — | 4131 | 2023– |
| 126515LN | 40 mm | 18k Everose gold | — | 4131 | 2023– |
| 126519LN | 40 mm | 18k white gold | — | 4131 | 2023– |
| 126579RBR | 40 mm | 18k white gold, diamond-set | Black | 4131 | 2023– |
| 126598TBR | 40 mm | 18k yellow gold, diamond-set | Golden | 4131 | 2023– |
About the Cosmograph Daytona family
The Cosmograph Daytona arrived in 1963 with ref. 6239, a manual-wind chronograph with the tachymeter scale moved onto the bezel. Later vintage references such as the 6263 and 6265 added screw-down pushers. In 1988 the ref. 16520 introduced automatic winding with caliber 4030, based on a Zenith El Primero, and in 2000 the ref. 116520 moved to the in-house caliber 4130.
The ceramic-bezel steel ref. 116500LN followed in 2016, and the current generation, with references such as the 126500LN, uses caliber 4131. Gold versions on Oysterflex, such as the 126518LN in yellow gold and 126515LN in Everose, sit alongside white gold and platinum models. Dealers date a Daytona by reference, caliber, bezel material and dial details, and pay close attention to box, papers and the date on the warranty card.
Quick answers
- What size is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520?
- The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520 has a 40 mm case, 12.6 mm thick.
- What movement does the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520 use?
- It uses the automatic caliber 4030, with a 54-hour power reserve.
- How water resistant is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520?
- It is water resistant to 100 metres.
- Is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520 still in production?
- No. It was made until 2000.
- When did the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520 come out?
- It was introduced in 1988 and made until 2000.
- What is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520 made of?
- The case is stainless steel. Bracelet or strap: Oyster, stainless steel bracelet.
- Which dials was the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520 made with?
- The catalog lists 2 dials: Black, White.
- What is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520 nicknamed?
- Dealers and collectors call it the “Zenith Daytona”.
Catalog facts checked October 2026.