Introduced in the first half of 1950s, reference 6034 was among one of the earliest series of chronographs in the ref. 6000 range. Sometimes referred to as the Pre-Daytona alongside ref. 6238, it is in fact an ancestor of 6238, thus making it the grandfather of the Daytona.

Indeed, the watch employs an Oyster case, paving the way to what would become one of the most popular designs of the 20th century: the coveted Cosmograph Daytona. Worth noting is that Rolex considered such a design an Oyster one - as mentioned on the dial - even though it lacks screw-down pushers. Only after their introduction with ref. 6240 they will be considered a fundamental part of an Oyster case (and indeed 1970s ref. 6262 and 6264 with pump pushers do not usually bear the “Oyster” designation).

Two traits distinguish this example from the rest, one apparent, and one “hidden”.

The latter one consists in the fact that the present piece has been part of one of the most famous watch collections of all times, that of Eric Clapton CBE. Possibly as skilled a collector as he is a guitar player, Mr. Clapton’s unerringly selected the best in rarity and quality for his collection, to the point of owning some of the most coveted wristwatches on the planet (for example, the platinum Patek Philippe reference 2499). It is no surprise that a watch bearing his “mark of approval”, combined with the fact that he is not only one of the greatest collectors of all times but one of the greatest artists as well, is always an unmissable opportunity for the connoisseur. The present watch was offered at the Important Pocket Watches & Wristwatches Featuring Property from the Collection of Eric Clapton sale in New York, 2003.

The second trait that highlights the present timepiece is obviously its incredible tropical dial. Rather than the monochromatic tropicalisation which one is used to seeing (if the expression “used to seeing” can even be employed with something as rare as a tropical dial), this watch features in incredibly “alive” mottle tropical pattern ranging from light tobacco to dark chocolate. An incredible explosion of hues and tonalities, the tropical effect grants this piece enormous charisma and appeal.

The coupling of its distinguished provenance with its incredible aesthetics renders the present timepiece one of the most intriguing examples of ref. 6034 to ever grace an auction room.