A milestone of Rolex’s chronograph history, the reference 6238, known as the “Pre-Daytona”, was produced in a variety of dial combinations, encased in stainless steel, 14K or 18K yellow gold. They were fitted with silver, grey, or black dials, with tachymeter and/or telemeter scales printed directly on the dials differentiating them from their successors, the Cosmograph Daytona.
The present reference 6238 is an incredibly rare example cased in 14K gold with black dial. Mostly used by Rolex for watches destined for the American market, 14K gold had lower import duties than 18K gold. Indeed the movement of the present watch confirms this theory, as it is stamped ‘ROW’ – the import code required by the U.S.
While the gold purity’s nuance appeals to the most cerebral Rolex collectors, the rare black dial can be admired and enjoyed even by the most uneducated observer. While black dials are the norm for Rolex sports from the mid-1950s forward (e.g., Submariners, GMT-Masters), the opposite holds true for earlier Rolex watches. When a black dial appears on models such as the ref. 6062, ref. 8171, or pre-Daytona chronographs, enthusiasts know they are in the presence of something extremely special.
Fitted with a matte black Rolex dial in flawless condition, with “T SWISS T” designation at 6 o’clock, in our opinion, the dial was most likely produced without luminous accents in the 1960s. Mounted in recent years by Rolex, the manufacture employed SuperLuminova to realize the accents at the moment of mounting the dial. Offered exceptionally with its rarely seen original box and guarantee, the present watch will certainly delight its future owner.
