916
Rolex
Ref. 6239
Cosmograph Daytona "Cherry Logo"
An uncommon and highly attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with "Cherry Logo" dial
Full-Cataloguing
- Highly sought-after "Cherry” Daytona logo that is found in later references
- Early bezel with 300 units per hour calibration
- ROW stamped on the movement meaning it was imported into the USA
- Well-preserved condition
As Rolex’s inaugural Cosmograph Daytona, the ref. 6239 was introduced in 1963 and occupies a foundational place in the brand’s chronograph history. Produced roughly between 1963 and 1969, the reference was offered in stainless steel as well as 14K and 18K yellow gold and it was Rolex’s first chronograph to carry the tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel.
The present, superb early example dates to circa 1967 and presents a striking black matte dial with silvered, recessed subsidiary dials. It features the highly desirable cherry red “Daytona” printed above the 6 o’clock register — a motif that later became synonymous with the model. An early bezel calibrated to 300 units per hour completes the period‑correct vintage look.
Powering the watch is calibre 722, a modified Valjoux 72 movement that served as the working heart of vintage Daytonas. Notably, this example’s movement bears a “ROW” stamp on the bridge, indicating it was imported into the USA in the 1960s — an interesting provenance detail that reinforces its history. For discerning collectors, the ref. 6239’s appeal goes beyond rarity or value as this example offers a tangible connection to the formative years of the Rolex Daytona.
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.