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Lot Essay
With Rolex original Guarantee dated 20 December 1968, servicing invoices dated 18 June 1970, 10 July 1975, 23 January 1980 and 25 September 2009, Rolex Cosmographe brochure from 1967, three spare bracelet links, original fitted green presentation box and outer packaging.
Bought by the present owner at Rolex Chronometrie du Molard in Geneva in 1968 and regularly serviced by Rolex, the watch is preserved in excellent overall condition. Its appeal is enhanced by the fascinating colour of the subsidiary dials which over the years has changed from black to an attractive chocolate brown. The presence of the original guarantee and box, both marked Rolex Chronometrie du Molard, add further value to this watch.
Reference 6239, the very first model of the celebrated "Daytona" series, succeeded reference 6238 and could be found in sales catalogues in Europe as of 1964. It is thought though that the model was available in the US already in 1963. Available in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachometre scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different color than the main dial for better readability. The dials of the early models featured only the designation "Cosmograph", referring to the outer space travels of the early 60s. The "Daytona" was added on later series to mark Rolex's sponsorship of the renowned NASCAR stock car race.
For detailed descriptions and illustrations of the dial and bezel variations of reference 6239 see Rolex Daytona - a legend is born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 44 - 61. Different versions of reference 6239 in regard to case material and dial layout are furthermore described and illustrated in Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 296-303.
Bought by the present owner at Rolex Chronometrie du Molard in Geneva in 1968 and regularly serviced by Rolex, the watch is preserved in excellent overall condition. Its appeal is enhanced by the fascinating colour of the subsidiary dials which over the years has changed from black to an attractive chocolate brown. The presence of the original guarantee and box, both marked Rolex Chronometrie du Molard, add further value to this watch.
Reference 6239, the very first model of the celebrated "Daytona" series, succeeded reference 6238 and could be found in sales catalogues in Europe as of 1964. It is thought though that the model was available in the US already in 1963. Available in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachometre scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different color than the main dial for better readability. The dials of the early models featured only the designation "Cosmograph", referring to the outer space travels of the early 60s. The "Daytona" was added on later series to mark Rolex's sponsorship of the renowned NASCAR stock car race.
For detailed descriptions and illustrations of the dial and bezel variations of reference 6239 see Rolex Daytona - a legend is born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 44 - 61. Different versions of reference 6239 in regard to case material and dial layout are furthermore described and illustrated in Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 296-303.