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Lot Essay
The present watch is a great example of the rarest variant of the reference 6239 - the so-called ‘Solo’ which as the name suggests, features only the word ‘Rolex’ on the dial. The 'Cosmograph' designation being omitted entirely. Existing on both the silver and the black dial versions, very few ‘Solo’ dial watches have surfaced over the years. Distinctively, the word ‘Rolex’ is positioned lower down on the dial than on examples of 6239’s signed ‘Rolex Cosmograph’ in the normal way which gives these watches a pared-down almost minimalist aesthetic.
The ‘Solo’ dials are part of the early evolution of the Rolex Cosmograph model and, due to the existence of period Rolex advertisements illustrating reference 6239 watches with ‘Solo’ dials, it is indeed certain that some examples of the 6239 were originally manufactured with ‘Solo’ dials.
The highly attractive dial of the present watch appears to have had no cosmetic intervention and exhibits nicely and uniformly aged lumes and matching hands. The case is presented with general signs of light use during the last fifty plus years. Undoubtedly a great rarity among the iconic reference 6239, this watch will both impress collectors by its excellent and honest originality, its general good state of preservation and its stunning black 'Solo' dial.
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. Produced in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachymetre scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different colour 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 watches to mark Rolex's sponsorship of the renowned NASCAR stock car race.
Literature
For another example of a reference 6239 ‘Solo’, please see: ‘Ultimate Rolex Daytona’, Pucci Papaleo, pp. 196-199.
The ‘Solo’ dials are part of the early evolution of the Rolex Cosmograph model and, due to the existence of period Rolex advertisements illustrating reference 6239 watches with ‘Solo’ dials, it is indeed certain that some examples of the 6239 were originally manufactured with ‘Solo’ dials.
The highly attractive dial of the present watch appears to have had no cosmetic intervention and exhibits nicely and uniformly aged lumes and matching hands. The case is presented with general signs of light use during the last fifty plus years. Undoubtedly a great rarity among the iconic reference 6239, this watch will both impress collectors by its excellent and honest originality, its general good state of preservation and its stunning black 'Solo' dial.
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. Produced in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachymetre scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different colour 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 watches to mark Rolex's sponsorship of the renowned NASCAR stock car race.
Literature
For another example of a reference 6239 ‘Solo’, please see: ‘Ultimate Rolex Daytona’, Pucci Papaleo, pp. 196-199.