Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet

Amongst collectors, reference 6238 is often referred to as the "Pre-Daytona" and enjoys today growing popularity within the community of Rolex aficionados. In 1960, Rolex launched model 6238, their last traditional chronograph wristwatch with polished bezel.

The "Pre-Daytona" with the silvered dial is the first Rolex chronograph to be fitted with the sunburst-finished dial, officially referred to as "cadran soleil argent", which gave the ideal background for the newly designed hands - for the first time in straight baton form. The new dial finish and baton-shaped hands can be found on all Rolex Daytona chronographs up to the mid-1980s, rendering these sports watches highly functional and lending them a particularly distinctive, masculine look.
Interestingly, the "Pre-Daytona" is known with silvered "soleil" dial of different shades, ranging from light silver to medium grey. It appears that the darkest version is the rarest and consequently the most sought after by collectors.

Different versions of reference 6238 in regard to case material and dial layout are described and illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 278 - 291.