158
Rolex
Ref. 6238
"Pre-Daytona"
A very rare 14K yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with telemeter and tachymeter scales
- Estimate
- CHF40,000 - 70,000€35,200 - 61,600$41,000 - 71,700
CHF87,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- 1966
- Reference No
- 6238
- Case No
- 1'422'510
- Model Name
- "Pre-Daytona"
- Material
- 14K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 72, 17 jewels, bridge further stamped ROW
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Gold plated Rolex pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 36mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
A milestone of Rolex’s chronograph production, the reference 6238 was produced in a variety of case and dial combinations, in steel, 14K or 18K yellow gold. These were fitted with silver, grey, and black dials, as well as an extremely rare version with bright blue and red multi scale like the present lot also exists.
In the mid-1960s Rolex created white dials with either blue telemeter and red tachymeter scales or simply with a blue telemeter scale with “T Swiss T” printing on the bottom of the dial indicating the use of tritium, as service dials for Oyster chronographs using the caliber 72.
Considering the very late production date of the present reference 6238 – it dates back to 1966 - it could be quite possible that the watch was born with this dial configuration. Adding extra rarity to the watch is its 14k yellow gold case indicating it was made for the United States market. Consequently, the movement bridge is stamped with the export mark “ROW”, indicating it was to be delivered to the American market.
The present reference 6238 is in extremely pleasing condition, and with this dial configuration and its vivid colors, it is undoubtedly destined for a collector of discerning taste.
In the mid-1960s Rolex created white dials with either blue telemeter and red tachymeter scales or simply with a blue telemeter scale with “T Swiss T” printing on the bottom of the dial indicating the use of tritium, as service dials for Oyster chronographs using the caliber 72.
Considering the very late production date of the present reference 6238 – it dates back to 1966 - it could be quite possible that the watch was born with this dial configuration. Adding extra rarity to the watch is its 14k yellow gold case indicating it was made for the United States market. Consequently, the movement bridge is stamped with the export mark “ROW”, indicating it was to be delivered to the American market.
The present reference 6238 is in extremely pleasing condition, and with this dial configuration and its vivid colors, it is undoubtedly destined for a collector of discerning taste.
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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