26
Rolex
Ref. 6238
Pre-Daytona
An extremely well-preserved, rare, and highly attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with black galvanic dial, tachymeter scale and bracelet
- Estimate
- $80,000 - 160,000
$406,400
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1965
- Reference No
- 6238
- Case No
- 1’226’340
- Model Name
- Pre-Daytona
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 722, 17 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Jubilee bracelet end links stamped 49, max overall length 200mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 36mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed. Movement further stamped ROW.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
A milestone of Rolex’s chronograph production, the reference 6238 was produced in a variety of dial combinations, encased in stainless steel, 14K or 18K yellow gold. These were fitted with silver, grey, and black dials, with tachymeter and/or telemeter scales printed directly on the dials differentiating them from their successors, the reference 6239s.
Dating to approximately 1965, this fresh-to-market and extremely well-preserved example features a very rare “galvanic” black dial. The luminous hour markers have aged beautifully and now display warm light brown patina, matching the hands. Its case condition is particularly stunning and impressive, exhibiting all signs that the watch was treasured and hardly ever used over the course of its lifetime. It remains very crisp, with the "step" between the case and the bezel extremely profound and sharp. The manual caliber 722 is stamped “ROW” indicating the watch was destined for the North American market.
The original owner was a renowned chemist, metallurgist, professional engineer, and licensed attorney. He served as an executive volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America with his friend Deke Slayton, one of the original seven NASA astronauts. Deke wore a black dial chronograph watch which inspired him to purchase this watch.
PROPERTY OF THE FAMILY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER
Dating to approximately 1965, this fresh-to-market and extremely well-preserved example features a very rare “galvanic” black dial. The luminous hour markers have aged beautifully and now display warm light brown patina, matching the hands. Its case condition is particularly stunning and impressive, exhibiting all signs that the watch was treasured and hardly ever used over the course of its lifetime. It remains very crisp, with the "step" between the case and the bezel extremely profound and sharp. The manual caliber 722 is stamped “ROW” indicating the watch was destined for the North American market.
The original owner was a renowned chemist, metallurgist, professional engineer, and licensed attorney. He served as an executive volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America with his friend Deke Slayton, one of the original seven NASA astronauts. Deke wore a black dial chronograph watch which inspired him to purchase this watch.
PROPERTY OF THE FAMILY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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.
Browse Maker