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拍品专文
Reference 6238 was Rolex's last "non-Daytona" chronograph, meaning it was the last model featuring a smooth bezel and the tachometer scales printed on the dial. All chronographs coming after this model featured the tachometer scale on the bezel. It comes, consequently, not as a surprise that amongst collectors this reference is also known as "pre-Daytona".
Mostly cased in stainless steel, a very small number of this legendary model was cased in gold. Examples reserved for the North American market are particularly rare and can most easily be identified as cased in 14 carat yellow gold. To highlight their rarity, it is rare to find two identical examples of such gold versions and the present "six-two-three-eight" is no exception. It features a so-called transitional dial with soleil finish (silvered sunburst) as known to the standard gold version. However, it is different in regards to the pointed dagger-shaped numerals and the blue tachometer scale. Interestingly, whereas these hour markers are commonly associated with feuille-shaped hands, this example here features the typical straight gold hands. The present example is dated to 1964 and is absolutedly correct to be designated at the lower edge as "T SWISS T", indicating that tritium was used for the luminous hands and hour pointers.
Another element of the dial which demonstrates the "one by one" production of this model are the French designations of "Oyster Chronographe and "Anti-Magnetique", clearly not intended for the US market.
Coming from a most private ownership, this reference 6238 is also fitted with a rare gold plated Oyster bracelet, another exclusivity best associated for the US market.
Preserved in overall very original and unmolested condition, this is a rare chronograph from the celebrated Oyster series which will please seasoned experts as much as novice collectors.
Reference 6238 is described and illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 278-291.
Mostly cased in stainless steel, a very small number of this legendary model was cased in gold. Examples reserved for the North American market are particularly rare and can most easily be identified as cased in 14 carat yellow gold. To highlight their rarity, it is rare to find two identical examples of such gold versions and the present "six-two-three-eight" is no exception. It features a so-called transitional dial with soleil finish (silvered sunburst) as known to the standard gold version. However, it is different in regards to the pointed dagger-shaped numerals and the blue tachometer scale. Interestingly, whereas these hour markers are commonly associated with feuille-shaped hands, this example here features the typical straight gold hands. The present example is dated to 1964 and is absolutedly correct to be designated at the lower edge as "T SWISS T", indicating that tritium was used for the luminous hands and hour pointers.
Another element of the dial which demonstrates the "one by one" production of this model are the French designations of "Oyster Chronographe and "Anti-Magnetique", clearly not intended for the US market.
Coming from a most private ownership, this reference 6238 is also fitted with a rare gold plated Oyster bracelet, another exclusivity best associated for the US market.
Preserved in overall very original and unmolested condition, this is a rare chronograph from the celebrated Oyster series which will please seasoned experts as much as novice collectors.
Reference 6238 is described and illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 278-291.