12
Rolex
Ref. 6241 "The Bumblebee"
Cosmograph Daytona
A rare, beautiful and well-preserved yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne ‘Paul Newman’ dial and bracelet
- Estimate
- CHF250,000 - 500,000
CHF516,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1968
- Reference No
- 6241 "The Bumblebee"
- Case No
- 1'947'414
- Model Name
- Cosmograph Daytona
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 722-1, 17 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- 18K yellow gold riveted Rolex Oyster bracelet, end links stamped 71, max length 210mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp stamped 1.72
- Dimensions
- 37.5mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Donning a beautiful champagne dial, this reference 6241 is cased in 18K yellow gold. Launched in 1966, reference 6241 was mainly cased in stainless steel. Scholars estimate that no more than 3000 examples were made during the model’s production period. Of these, less than a quarter were dressed in precious metal.
Featuring a large ‘T Swiss T’ designation at 6 o’clock, this bi-color dial configuration is correct for a Cosmograph bearing a serial number of 1.9 million. Now flaunting a warm and subtle honey color, the original champagne sheen has toned down over time. Furthermore, the luminous dots are all intact and round.
By the end of 1966, Rolex slightly modified the case design of reference 6241. The edge of the case was slightly stretched out at 3 o’clock, which made it easier to wind the crown. The ‘protrusion’ on this case is particularly evident, showing how little polishing it has received.
Displaying two crisp hallmarks beneath the lugs and a Mk 1 bezel, this timepiece has been untouched and unaltered since its original sale at auction five years ago when it tripled its pre-auction estimate.
Featuring a large ‘T Swiss T’ designation at 6 o’clock, this bi-color dial configuration is correct for a Cosmograph bearing a serial number of 1.9 million. Now flaunting a warm and subtle honey color, the original champagne sheen has toned down over time. Furthermore, the luminous dots are all intact and round.
By the end of 1966, Rolex slightly modified the case design of reference 6241. The edge of the case was slightly stretched out at 3 o’clock, which made it easier to wind the crown. The ‘protrusion’ on this case is particularly evident, showing how little polishing it has received.
Displaying two crisp hallmarks beneath the lugs and a Mk 1 bezel, this timepiece has been untouched and unaltered since its original sale at auction five years ago when it tripled its pre-auction estimate.
Literature
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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