21
Rolex
Ref. 6034
Oyster Chronograph Anti-magnetic
A highly rare and attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet
Full-Cataloguing
- Chronograph
- Reference 6034 predates references 6234 and 6238
- Preserved overall exceedingly attractive condition with rare dial variant and engraving "Rolex Oyster Case" on the case back
Please see the Archivio Pucci Papaleo digital archive record here.
Introduced in the early 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 the reference 6238 or reference 6234, it is in fact an ancestor or precursor of the 6238, thus making it the great-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 of the ref. 6241 would the pushers 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).
The present watch displays an exceedingly attractive dial configuration with yellow gold teardrop numerals. An extremely rare dial variant, it was fitted on the very early reference 6034s. Of particular note is the incredible sharp case which displays "Rolex Oyster Case" on the case back.
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.