Rolex - Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR Geneva Friday, November 11, 2016 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1973
    Reference No: 6265
    Case No: 3'731'442
    Model Name: Oyster Cosmograph Daytona
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 727, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, reference 7835 19, end links stamped 271, max length 200mm.
    Clasp/Buckle: Folding deployant clasp further stamped 1.72
    Dimensions: 37mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by a Rolex presentation box and outer packaging

  • Catalogue Essay

    This most attractive reference 6265 Daytona stands out with its magnificently aged “tropical” subsidiary dials. Originally black, the subdials have beautifully aged to an extraordinary latte macchiatto color, with a highly charismatic color distribution that stunningly contrast with the white main dial. The dial is referred to as a “sigma” dial, as the dial’s bottom edge at six o’clock features the sigma designations flanking “T SWISS T”, signifying the use of gold for the hour markers and hands. Launched in the beginning of the 1970s, references 6263 and 6265 replaced the first Oyster Cosmograph model 6240. Both featuring screw-down pusher and the new improved manual winding caliber 727, the difference lays in the bezel: one is fitted with a black acrylic insert with a printed tachymeter, and the other one sports a metal bezel. Those references were available in gold and in stainless steel. The present stainless steel example is fitted with its original bracelet stamped 1.72 but the real beauty of this watch lies of course in its dial. In exceptional original condition, the overall impact of this chronograph will impress any collector of vintage Rolex sports watches.

  • 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 very attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with "tropical" subdials, tachymeter scale, bracelet and box

1973
37mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF50,000 - 100,000 
€45,900-91,800
$51,500-103,000

Sold for CHF162,500

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR

Geneva Auctions 12 – 13 November 2016