130
Rolex
Ref. 6234
Oyster Chronograph Anti-magnetique
A striking and highly rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet
Full-Cataloguing
- Chronograph
- Characterized by its smooth bezel, the reference is particularly distinguished by its tachymeter scale printed directly on the dial
- Preserved in overall very crisp condition
Please see the Archivio Pucci Papaleo digital archive record here.
Rolex’s production of reference 6234 was notably limited. Scholars estimate that approximately 2,300 examples were produced in stainless steel following the reference’s introduction in 1955, while fewer than 150 were cased in 14k or 18k yellow gold. After roughly six years of production, reference 6234 was discontinued in 1961 and succeeded by reference 6238, the final “Pre-Daytona” reference.
Reference 6234 was offered with a diverse array of dial configurations, ranging from matte and lacquered finishes to variations in subsidiary register sizes, scales, and color combinations. These differences are believed to have served, in part, as a means of gauging the market’s evolving aesthetic preferences for chronograph wristwatches. Characterized by its smooth bezel, the reference is particularly distinguished by its tachymeter scale printed directly on the dial—a defining feature that would also be carried forward to its successor.
Retained in extremely attractive overall condition, the present example represents a rare opportunity to acquire a highly desirable and versatile Rolex Pre-Daytona chronograph. The case is incredibly sharp with crisp proportions With its restrained proportions, distinctive dial architecture, and enduring aesthetic appeal, reference 6234 remains remarkably relevant to the modern collector.
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.