Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1979 Reference No: 6265 Movement No: 7’791 Case No: 5’996’135 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 727, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max overall length 205mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp, reference 7205, stamped RS4 Dimensions: 37mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed. Accessories: Accompanied by additional Rolex deployant clasp in 18K yellow gold stamped E for 1980, Rolex service card dated May 31st, 2013, and Rolex embroidered tapestry leather presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
The Daytona reference 6265 was introduced to the market in 1969, and ceased production in 1987. While the reference was mainly cased in stainless steel, limited amounts were also cased in 18K or 14K yellow gold. As the Daytona was first and foremost a tool watch for professional drivers, the public mostly looked for the light and resistant steel version; the heavy, flashy, and more delicate gold variation made little sense at the time. Thus, notwithstanding over its nearly two decade production run, it is estimated that no more than 2000 examples were cased in gold.
One of the properties of the Rolex caliber 727 (found on references 6262, 6263, 6264, and 6265) is that it had the potential to be regulated as a chronometer. While, however, steel Daytonas were not certified by COSC, the gold versions, doubtlessly due to their higher prestige, were indeed sent to COSC for certification. Thus, with some very early exceptions, they bear already the script now ubiquitous on all Daytonas: Superlative Chronometer / Officially Certified.
Accompanied by an unusual and attractive 1980s period Rolex presentation box with floral “tapestry” embroidery, as well as a Rolex service card from 2013, this crisply preserved, attractive, and versatile 6265 in 18K yellow gold, paired with champagne dial is a luxurious iteration on the icon known as the Cosmograph Daytona.
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.
