The Rolex Daytona created a great impact in the Luxury Sport Watch Market since the release of its first model. Switching to the Zenith Model made from 1988 to 2000. Also, introducing the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph, which housed the caliber 4130, and launched in the BaselWorld exhibition in March,2000. Then, they moved the market once again with the 116500 series. All the new models of the new 116500 series had a diameter of 40 mm and were slightly thinner than the previous versions.
This watch was presented at BaselWorld 2004. This brand new model was immediately associated with wildlife and became one of the most sought after Rolex models. Probably one of the most eccentric, and showy watches that Rolex has ever made. A watch that is really shiny, sparkly. There’s jewels on the bezel (sapphires), the lug heads (diamonds).
18K Gold Case
This is an 18k yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Leopard” 116598, and a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. It includes round screw down chronograph push buttons, a screw down winding crown with squared crown guards, and there is a screw down solid case back. The “SACO” indicates that the bezel is set with baguette-cut sapphires (a whopping 36) in the color cognac. The 40mm diameter solid three-body case, curved lugs, and flat channeled bezel set with 36 cognac colored baguette sapphires, are polished. There are 24 diamonds between the lugs on both sides (48 in total) that cover the space between the strap and the case.
A marvelous dial
The dial has a leopard print with 8 applied chaton-set diamond hour markers around a gold perimeter minute/one-fifth second scale. There are applied 18k gold Arabic numerals at the 15, 30, and 45-minute positions. It has gold baton hands, a center sweep chronograph seconds hand, and an applied gold Rolex crown at 12 o’clock. There are three gold guilloche subsidiary dials with black markers, gold indicators, and black Arabic numerals, including a 12-hour chronograph totalizer at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute totalizer at 3 o’clock, and there is a running small seconds dial at 6 o’clock. It has a Certified Official Superlative Chronometer (COSC) rating, a 72-hour power reserve at full wind, and it’s water resistant to 100 meters/330 feet. The 12mm thick case, dial, and movement are all signed.
A perfect running machine
This Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Leopard” 116598 has a mechanical automatic self-winding Rolex Caliber 4130 column-wheel chronograph movement. It’s rhodium-plated with fausses cotes embellishment, and it’s constructed with 44 jewels, a shock absorber mechanism, and a straight-line lever escapement. It has a monometallic balance that’s adjusted to heat, cold, and 6 positions. It includes a self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, a hacking seconds mechanism for precision time-setting, and Microstella regulating screws. It has the Rolex blue Parachrom hairspring and overcoil. The mechanism oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz).
Leopard Strap
A comfortable leopard print leather strap, with yellow on the outside and burnt orange in the middle. It makes the perfect combination with the dial color. Yellow Gold double folding deployant buckle.
Popularity increased over the years but when, in 2019, the ‘Leopard’ got discontinued the market took off. Nowadays the ‘SACO’ is very sought-after by collectors and watch aficionados world wide.
We understand that this is not a watch for everyone, only the flamboyant man or woman can sport this. We at Gioielleria Bonanno have this and other luxury watches on stock. We are happy to have you in our community and always wish you a pleasant shopping. Feel free to visit our website or schedule an in-store appointment to see our extensive watch catalog.
Features
Brand: Rolex.
Model: Daytona Cosmograph Leopard “SACO”.
Reference Number: 116598 SACO.
Movement: Caliber 4130.
Diameter: 40mm.
Thickness: 12mm.
Case Material: 18k yellow-gold case, Original Rolex.
Glass: Sapphire crystal.
Bezel Material: 18k yellow-gold bezel set with baguette-cut sapphires, Original Rolex.
Dial Color: Leonard print dial.
Indexes: Factory-set diamond index, Original Rolex.
Water Resistance: 100 meters (10 bar).
Strap/Bracelet: Leopard-print leather strap, Original Rolex.
