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Lot Essay
Reference 6239, the very first model of the celebrated "Daytona" series, succeeded the previous lot, reference 6238, and could be found in sales catalogues in Europe as of 1964, though it is thought 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 tachometer 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, as the present example, 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.
The present watch is a very early example of this reference with its original guarantee and box. Furthermore, this watch retains the original bezel calibrated to a maximum 300 units per hour, which was shortly thereafter changed on later examples of the reference 6239 to a maximum 200 units per hour.
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 regards to case material and dial layout are moreover described and illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 296-303.
Available in stainless steel, 14k and 18k gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachometer 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, as the present example, 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.
The present watch is a very early example of this reference with its original guarantee and box. Furthermore, this watch retains the original bezel calibrated to a maximum 300 units per hour, which was shortly thereafter changed on later examples of the reference 6239 to a maximum 200 units per hour.
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 regards to case material and dial layout are moreover described and illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 296-303.