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Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
Ref. 116519
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
The Daytona had run Zenith movements for a decade before Rolex replaced them at the turn of the millennium, and the 116519 was among the first references to carry the result: Calibre 4130, built entirely in-house. The movement's reputation rests partly on its vertical clutch, which means the chronograph seconds hand moves cleanly from rest rather than stuttering when the pusher is pressed — a detail that sounds mechanical and turns out to matter every time you use it. The 72-hour power reserve is a further argument for a movement architecture that was, for Rolex, entirely new. In solid white gold, 40mm reads smaller than it sounds — the lug-to-lug of 47.5mm keeps it from overreaching on the wrist, and at 12.4mm it sits flatter than the case material might suggest. The mother-of-pearl dial belongs to the Beach Daytona family, a series of stone and shell dials from the early 2000s that now attract serious collector interest precisely because they were never the obvious choice for a racing chronograph. On a fitted leather strap and the matching white gold folding clasp, the weight settles rather than shifts.
- Reference
- 116519
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12.4mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- White gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Mother-of-pearl
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed tachymeter
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 4130
- Functions
- Chronograph, Small seconds, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.5mm
- Power reserve
- 72 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona range (15), Automatic Watches (1,699), Chronograph Watches (1,374), Leather Strap Watches (1,083) and Solid Gold Watches (138).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 72-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 116519 | GC39-TNPS-LSEN-RSDP-RE | pfc907-1020001-100182 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £39,950 | £41,040 | £38,600 |
| Case size | 40mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 72 hours | 50 hours | 50 hours |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 72 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 47.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £39,950 is the cheapest of 3 UK retailers, against £42,950 at the dearest — a difference of £3,000.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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