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Lot Essay
The hard to find Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 6240 with small ‘floating Daytona’ dial is rarely seen at auction in such excellent condition as the present watch. The untouched dial is free of cosmetic intervention and the case shows good proportions with correct Mark I or ‘millerighe’ pushers.
Reference 6240 was introduced in late 1965 as the first waterproof Cosmograph model to be produced by Rolex. This new innovation was predominantly characterized by the introduction of screw-down chronograph pushers in addition to the screw-down crown. In production only during the second half of the 1960s, it is thought that no more than 1750 examples were made. The reference 6240 was in essence an experimental model which Rolex used in order to trial different dial designs and to perfect the waterproofness of the model which emerged fully as the now better known references 6263 and 6265.
At least three different main dial types are found on reference 6240. Early examples such as the present watch are distinguished by their non-Oyster dial, not yet making reference to the screw down pushers. In fact, this example still features a dial version better known on reference 6239 with the sought-after small, ‘floating’ Daytona designation, this shows that Rolex were using the non-Oyster 6239 dials for some of the new reference 6240 watches. The next dial type was similar but with the model name ‘Daytona’ now non-floating and in larger text. It was only for the later examples of reference 6240 did Rolex fit a dial with the ‘Oyster’ designation.
Literature
Other examples of Rolex chronograph models featuring the small ‘Daytona’ designation are illustrated in: ‘100 Superlative Rolex Watches’, John Goldberger, p. 238, 246 & 247 and in: ‘Rolex Daytona - a legend is born’, Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 46 & 51.
The standard reference 6240 with ‘Rolex Oyster Cosmograph dial’ is described and illustrated in: ‘Rolex Daytona - A Legend is Born’, Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 76-92, in: ‘I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda’, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 304-311, and in: ‘100 Superlative Rolex Watches’, John Goldberger, p. 239.
Reference 6240 was introduced in late 1965 as the first waterproof Cosmograph model to be produced by Rolex. This new innovation was predominantly characterized by the introduction of screw-down chronograph pushers in addition to the screw-down crown. In production only during the second half of the 1960s, it is thought that no more than 1750 examples were made. The reference 6240 was in essence an experimental model which Rolex used in order to trial different dial designs and to perfect the waterproofness of the model which emerged fully as the now better known references 6263 and 6265.
At least three different main dial types are found on reference 6240. Early examples such as the present watch are distinguished by their non-Oyster dial, not yet making reference to the screw down pushers. In fact, this example still features a dial version better known on reference 6239 with the sought-after small, ‘floating’ Daytona designation, this shows that Rolex were using the non-Oyster 6239 dials for some of the new reference 6240 watches. The next dial type was similar but with the model name ‘Daytona’ now non-floating and in larger text. It was only for the later examples of reference 6240 did Rolex fit a dial with the ‘Oyster’ designation.
Literature
Other examples of Rolex chronograph models featuring the small ‘Daytona’ designation are illustrated in: ‘100 Superlative Rolex Watches’, John Goldberger, p. 238, 246 & 247 and in: ‘Rolex Daytona - a legend is born’, Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 46 & 51.
The standard reference 6240 with ‘Rolex Oyster Cosmograph dial’ is described and illustrated in: ‘Rolex Daytona - A Legend is Born’, Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 76-92, in: ‘I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda’, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 304-311, and in: ‘100 Superlative Rolex Watches’, John Goldberger, p. 239.