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Lot 174
Rolex. A rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet and early "non Oyster" dial
SIGNED ROLEX, COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA, REF. 6240, MOVEMENT NO. 1'439'224, CIRCA 1967
Closed13 May 2013
Price Realised
CHF 30,000
More Information
Specialist note
Reference 6240 was the first "Oyster Cosmograph" model produced by Rolex. This innovation was marked predominantly by two things: the screw down push buttons and the designation "Oyster Cosmograph" on the dial.
However, what stands out about the present watch is its early non-Oyster dial, which makes no reference to the company's now standard screw down pushers. The watch, in fact, features a dial version better known on reference 6239, with the sought-after small, shifted Daytona designation. Only for a second generation of reference 6240, Rolex designed a dial with the Oyster denomination.
Other examples of Rolex chronograph models featuring the small "Daytona" designation are illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 238, 246 & 247 and in Rolex Daytona - A legend is Born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 46 & 51.
Meanwhile, the more standard version of the reference 6240 with "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph dial" is described and illustrated in Rolex Daytona - A Legend is Born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 76-92, in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda by Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 304-311, and in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, p. 239.
However, what stands out about the present watch is its early non-Oyster dial, which makes no reference to the company's now standard screw down pushers. The watch, in fact, features a dial version better known on reference 6239, with the sought-after small, shifted Daytona designation. Only for a second generation of reference 6240, Rolex designed a dial with the Oyster denomination.
Other examples of Rolex chronograph models featuring the small "Daytona" designation are illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 238, 246 & 247 and in Rolex Daytona - A legend is Born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 46 & 51.
Meanwhile, the more standard version of the reference 6240 with "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph dial" is described and illustrated in Rolex Daytona - A Legend is Born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 76-92, in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda by Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 304-311, and in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, p. 239.