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Lot Essay
The Rolex Daytona with pulsometer scale is an almost mythical variant of the model, with the number of pieces produced so small it can be counted on two hands. The model was underappreciated when it was first commercially available, and possibly was specially ordered only by those in the medical field. Today, it has become one of the most desirable models and a treasure for a very select few.
When the Rolex Daytona was first introduced in to the market the standard chronograph was not immediately accepted or coveted by the mainstream public. The pulsation scale model, so specific and targeted to such a limited segment of the market, went completely unnoticed. Current scholarship indicates possibly only ten examples are known.
The Pulsometer Scale
The pulsometer scale was a function dedicated to those in the medical field, used to calculate a patient's heartbeat. The medical practitioner would start the chronograph function at the first heartbeat, and stop it based on the count determined by the scale, in this particular example 15. The stopped chronograph hand would indicate the number of heart beats per minute based on the scale. The purpose of this timing reduced the time spent counting the beats per minute.
A twenty beat measurement would have be more precise, but would take more time, while a ten beat measurement would be faster, but less precise. The fifteen beat measurement is right in the middle and would allow the medical practitioner to determine an accurate reading of a patient's heartbeat.
The Rolex Daytona with Pulsometer Scale
In addition to the pulsometer scale to the dial, Rolex made adjustments to the design and layout. The hour markers were moved closer to the center of the dial, giving it a more compact look. The scale was printed in a bright blue allowing the scale to stand out and become a prominent feature on the dial.
Rolex created two variants of the Daytona pulsation scale watches The first version like the present model is without the "Daytona" designation above the 12 hour register and features a continuous fifths second divisions. The second verision features the "Daytona" designation in red and interrupted fifth seconds scale stopping before and after all of the applied steel baton hour markers.
An example of the Daytona red model sold at Christie's Geneva in the Rolex Daytona: Lesson One sale for 761,000 CHF (Lot 7).
For similar and different versions of stainless steel references 6239 and 6262 with pulsometer dial see I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 322-325, and Ultimate Rolex Daytona, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 204-207 and 288-291.
When the Rolex Daytona was first introduced in to the market the standard chronograph was not immediately accepted or coveted by the mainstream public. The pulsation scale model, so specific and targeted to such a limited segment of the market, went completely unnoticed. Current scholarship indicates possibly only ten examples are known.
The Pulsometer Scale
The pulsometer scale was a function dedicated to those in the medical field, used to calculate a patient's heartbeat. The medical practitioner would start the chronograph function at the first heartbeat, and stop it based on the count determined by the scale, in this particular example 15. The stopped chronograph hand would indicate the number of heart beats per minute based on the scale. The purpose of this timing reduced the time spent counting the beats per minute.
A twenty beat measurement would have be more precise, but would take more time, while a ten beat measurement would be faster, but less precise. The fifteen beat measurement is right in the middle and would allow the medical practitioner to determine an accurate reading of a patient's heartbeat.
The Rolex Daytona with Pulsometer Scale
In addition to the pulsometer scale to the dial, Rolex made adjustments to the design and layout. The hour markers were moved closer to the center of the dial, giving it a more compact look. The scale was printed in a bright blue allowing the scale to stand out and become a prominent feature on the dial.
Rolex created two variants of the Daytona pulsation scale watches The first version like the present model is without the "Daytona" designation above the 12 hour register and features a continuous fifths second divisions. The second verision features the "Daytona" designation in red and interrupted fifth seconds scale stopping before and after all of the applied steel baton hour markers.
An example of the Daytona red model sold at Christie's Geneva in the Rolex Daytona: Lesson One sale for 761,000 CHF (Lot 7).
For similar and different versions of stainless steel references 6239 and 6262 with pulsometer dial see I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 322-325, and Ultimate Rolex Daytona, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 204-207 and 288-291.