ROLEX. A FINE, ATTRACTIVE AND RARE STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
Lot 2591

ROLEX. A FINE, ATTRACTIVE AND RARE STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET

SIGNED ROLEX, CHRONOGRAPH, REF. 6238, CASE NO. 1'226'480, CIRCA 1965

Closed27 November 2013

Price Realised

HKD 250,000

More Information

How to sell

ROLEX. A FINE, ATTRACTIVE AND RARE STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, CHRONOGRAPH, REF. 6238, CASE NO. 1'226'480, CIRCA 1965
Cal. 722 mechanical lever movement, 17 jewels, silvered brushed dial, applied baton numerals, luminous accents, luminous hands, three engine-turned subsidiary dials for constant seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour registers, outer tachymetre scale for miles, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, screw down crown and back, two chronograph buttons in the band, stainless steel Rolex Oyster expandable riveted bracelet and deploaynt clasp, case, dial and movement signed
36 mm. diam.

Specialist note

US$20,000-30,000

The present vintage Rolex is a formidable collector's example of a chronograph reference 6238, offered here in overall good and well-preserved condition.

Known in the watch world as the "Pre-Daytona", reference 6238 enjoys enormous popularity due to its rarity and historical significance within the company's history. In production only from approximately 1962 to 1967, this three-body watch was the company's last traditional chronograph with polished bezel. It is the immediate predecessor of Rolex's successful line of Cosmograph Daytona watches launched in the 1960s. With its diameter of 36 mm. it is also a very sporty, yet very subtle, watch and easily wearable on any occasion.

The Pre-Daytona came with a Valjoux base calibre 72B or the modified Rolex version cal. 722.

For more detailed descriptions and illustrations of reference 6238 see 100 Years of Rolex by Franca and Guido Mondani, pp. 104-106, as well as 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 128-137 and I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, p. 278-291.