Perhaps one of the most iconic timepieces to have ever hit the market, the Rolex Daytona is widely recognized as one of the most desirable watches there is. Distinguished by its three generations, what we have here is the 2nd generation 5-digit reference, known as the "Zenith" Daytonas due to the movement (the Rolex cal. 4030) being a heavily modified version of the Zenith-supplied El Primero movement. Forgoing its date function, slowing the movement's frequency down to increase the power reserve, and featuring fewer parts to improve reliability, the cal. 4030 found within the Zenith Daytonas is one of the finest pieces of horological engineering to come out of the late 80s and 90s (1988-2000). Still a mechanically astute timepiece to this day, the Zenith Daytona exists through a wide variety of references, of which, the ref. 16520 is the purest. A wonderful expression of Rolex's engineering capabilities and the consistency in their iconic design language, the Zenith Daytona is the unsung hero in the Daytona's lineage. Still, it won't be for long when collectors begin to unravel the story and see the value these incredible timepieces hold.

Watch is in overall excellent condition. There is a minor ding along the inner edge of the bezel near the 2 o'clock index, but the remainter of the bezel remains in excellent condition wtih full black enameling in the indexes. The case is excellent with only minor wear visible, mainly hairlines on the polished surfaces. The dial is near-mint with no visible signs of wear. Bracelet has 11 links, 1 of which is removable, as well as 2 additional links on the side. There is minimal stretch in the band.

It is hard to imagine that the 16520 was launched over 30 years ago! Still as modern looking as when it was first released, the Zenith caliber-based Daytonas are amongst my favorite. With new Daytonas fetching prices that are higher than ever, these now vintage examples are worth some serious consideration.