Rolex has extremely strict quality control guidelines, making it close to impossible for a flawed watch to pass through their rigorous testing and end up for sale at a retailer. It is not only a mystery, but also an ultimate trophy for a collector to find a Rolex watch sold with an error on the dial that is in fact original and in the same state as it was when leaving the factory. The present watch is a treat to scholars and collectors alike, as this ‘sigma’ dial is already rare.

However, when paired with an erroneous double printing of the ‘Rolex’ signature, it becomes one of the most exciting watches for collectors of vintage Rolex. Reference 6265 was launched simultaneously with reference 6263 in 1969, replacing the first Oyster Cosmograph, reference 6240. These Cosmograph Daytonas with screw-down pushers were in production for almost 20 years, and were offered in either stainless steel or gold. This example is referred to as a “sigma” dial, as the dial’s bottom edge at six o’clock features the sigma designations flanking “T SWISS T”, signifying the use of gold for the hour markers and hands. The matte black dial is in excellent condition, with luminous dots along the outer ring, all of which are present and intact. Manufactured in 1972, the present watch is in pristine condition, indicative of careful wear over its 45 year lifespan. At once masculine and highly attractive, the Daytona can easily be worn day or night, and the idiosyncracies of the present example make it a trophy piece for scholars of vintage Rolex watches.