Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1979 Reference No: 6265 Case No: 6’243’473 Model Name: Oyster Cosmograph Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 727, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, endlinks stamped 71, max length 195 mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp stamped 7205 Dimensions: 37 mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: With Rolex hang tag stamped with matching numbers.
Catalogue Essay
Finely crafted in yellow gold, this wondrous Rolex chronograph is by all means an awe-inspiring marvel to behold. Debuted in 1969 to replace the preceding reference 6240, the reference 6265 was in production together with the reference 6263. While it is a professional-grade timekeeping device, the model was also offered in yellow gold as an opulent alternative. The case has aged finely with a patina of oxidation, further conferring a unique personality to the watch.
Despite its age, the dial and case of the present watch are preserved in excellent condition. Making the watch even more collectable, the original seal sticker is nicely kept on the caseback. According to our research, only about 100 pieces of references 6263 and 6265 were created per year on average, making the model extremely rare and sought after in the market. This watch is sure to impress the most discerning vintage Rolex collectors.
Founded 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.