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Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
Ref. 116528
Sits in Rolex’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Rolex watches we list, which start at £5,355.
Price range £5,355 to £125,000 across 74 Rolex watches in stock.The Daytona's story divides cleanly at 2000, when Rolex replaced the Zenith-sourced movement that had powered the watch for a generation with a calibre designed and built entirely in-house. The 4130 was the result: a chronograph movement with a column-wheel and vertical clutch, which means the seconds hand moves the instant the pusher is pressed, without the fractional shudder that plagues older lateral-clutch designs. Seventy-two hours of reserve means a weekend off the wrist causes no disruption. The 116528 takes that movement and puts it inside a case and bracelet made entirely from solid 18ct yellow gold — not plated, not capped. The weight is immediately apparent when you pick it up, and the Oyster bracelet, with its alternating brushed and polished links, distributes that mass across the wrist rather than concentrating it at the case. The tachymeter scale is engraved into the fixed bezel, which keeps the surface flush and legible rather than relying on an insert. The Easylink system in the clasp allows five millimetres of on-the-fly length adjustment without tools — a detail that earns its keep on a bracelet this dense, where temperature and time of day make a genuine difference to how the watch sits.
- Reference
- 116528
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12.4mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 4130
- Functions
- Chronograph, Small seconds, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Gold
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- 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 6 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona range (15), Back in Stock (4,528), Stainless Steel Watches (3,001), Automatic Watches (1,693), Chronograph Watches (1,151) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
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
Price history
The price has risen £5,695 since 6 October. It's ranged between £35,855 and £42,450. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
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 |  116528 | 26120ST.OO.1220ST.03 | 5235G-001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £41,550 | £39,950 | £36,950 |
| Case size | 40mm | 39mm | 40.5mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 72 hours | 38 hours | 48 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
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.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow 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.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £41,550, against £42,450 at Goldsmiths. Two UK retailers stock this reference.
Has the price changed recently?
It's changed recently, it's higher than its previous recorded price. It's ranged between £35,855 and £42,450, today it's £41,550.
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