Rolex Ref 16520 Daytona – Patrizzi Dial – Full Set, Unpolished, Sold in 1996

In 1988 Zenith Daytona watches, as they became unofficially known, introduced the overall design template that continues to define the Rolex Daytona collection today. The new generation of Daytona watches were larger at 40mm, and Rolex introduced crown-guards, and switched from acrylic to sapphire crystals. Most significantly, Rolex moved away from manual movements to an automatic one that was based on the Zenith El Primero chronograph.Some, not all, of the original black dial ref. 16520’s (made between 1994 and 1998) used an organic varnish, called Zapon, to protect Daytona’s face. Unrecognized at the time, the lacquer did not provide sufficient coverage and, over the years, the silver outer tracks on sub dials have oxidized, turning a definite golden-brown color as they react with UV rays. This phenomenon was discovered by Osvaldo Patrizzi, the watchmaker who founded Antiquorum Auctioneers and the dials were named after him.The changes do not stabilize and continue to take effect dia