The field of Daytona collecting is comprised of legends and even mythical models – and today we are thrilled to offer one such example. We at Phillips are delighted to present the third, previously unknown, and completely original reference 6239 with blue pulsations dial and red floating “Daytona” logo - and only the second example found with this exact dial.
These watches were specialized for the medical field, as the pulsometer scale is meant to measure heart beats per minute and can be found on some of Rolex’s earliest chronographs, dating from the 1930s and can even be found on rare examples of the reference 6238 “Pre-Daytona.” To utilize the pulsometer scale, a doctor would start the chronograph function, and stop it based on the number of heart beats counted as indicated on the scale, in this particular example 15 (hence, base 15 pulsations). The stopped chronograph hand would indicate the exact number of heart beats per minute on the pulsometer scale, without taking the entire minute.
A noteworthy design element is the modified dial layout, as a result of the space occupied by the pulsation scale. One might think the scale was simply added to an existing production dial from a standard reference 6239 of this period. Instead, the applied hour markers have been slightly centered, parts of the minute track removed to make room for them, and the black minute scale and T-SWISS-T designation were repositioned, demonstrating this dial variant was designed to feature the pulsations scale from its inception. Like the other example with this dial layout, this example of “The Doctor” is fitted with a black chronograph hand, as opposed to the normal silver. One can assume this is because legibility is paramount for a doctor taking the pulse of his patient. The red “Daytona” logo found on this example resembles most closely the early “Cherry logo” dials seen in this era. This custom configuration perfectly fits within the Cosmograph Daytona’s design language past and present, retaining all the product line’s visually pleasing yet sensible features admired by collectors.
The case bears the serial number 1’695’628, falling perfectly in line with the previously known example (sold in 2014 in the Christie’s Geneva “Daytona Lesson ONE” sale with serial number 1'695'328) fitted with this exact dial configuration. It is completely fresh to the market and unmolested, having been worn previously but with all its factory-original parts including the handset. This example of “Pulsations Cherry Logo” Cosmograph Daytona comes to us from a casual enthusiast and watch collector in Texas who, over two decades ago, obtained this watch in a trade. Having hardly worn it, it is now offered publicly for the first time ever.
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.