Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE Geneva Saturday, May 11, 2019 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1979
    Reference No: 6265
    Case No: 5'528'960
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona " Telephone Big Red"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 727, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 37mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    Reference 6265 was introduced to the market in approximately 1969, and ceased production in the late 1980s. Compared to first generation examples of the Cosmograph Daytona, the model featured screw down pushers, and thus carried the 'Oyster' designation on the dial. The movement was also upgraded from a Valjoux 722 movement, to the more reliable Valjoux 727 movement.

    This extremely singular reference 6265 features a “Telephone” dial. In addition to having steel baton indexes and a “Big Red” designation, this watch also displays Arabic numerals printed directly onto the dial with black paint in the style of an old rotary telephone. It is our belief that for legibility purposes the owner of the watch had these numerals added at a later date giving the watch a rather unconventional yet interesting appearance.

    Having resided within the same family for many years, the reasons behind the creation of current dial can only be guessed.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded 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.

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Ref. 6265
A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with “telephone” dial

Circa 1979
37mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF50,000 - 100,000 
€44,500-89,100
$50,400-101,000

Sold for CHF86,250

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Sale
+ 41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE

Geneva Auction 11-12 May 2019