THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 6262
YEAR: 1970
BOX/PAPERS: YES/YES
CASE DIAMETER: 37MM
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: MANUAL WIND
The Rolex ref. 6239 was introduced in 1963 as the first Cosmograph Daytona, starting the lineage of what is today the most popular model in the Rolex lineup (and perhaps for the foreseeable future). It features a 37 mm case, Valjoux 72 movement, pump pushers, and a three-register dial in various executions. Over the following few years, Rolex experimented heavily with the lineup, testing several upgrades, most notably the screw-down pushers first featured on the 6240, and subsequently on the 6263/65 (arguably the most notable four-digit Daytonas).
The matte black “reverse panda” dial example we have here-oh wait, this is not a 6239….
Whilst looking extremely similar to one from across the room, the watch here features a grey-blue “Daytona” signature above the 6 o’clock subdial, a steel 50–200 bezel, and a Valjoux 727 movement beating inside. In 1969, Rolex quietly released the ref. 6262, the first Daytona to feature the updated movement with 21,600 a/hour. The reference was only made for a year, and is most famous for its various Paul Newman executions, which fetch eye-watering numbers these days.
The example here is perfect: the case is superbly strong, and the dial has no imperfections. All of the tritium plots are in place and have aged to a beautiful creamy hue. The original 7835/271 bracelet has minimal stretch, with the original ’70-stamped clasp. To complete the package, the watch comes as a full set, with its original box, passport, booklet, original guarantee papers dated April 1972 in Luzern, Switzerland, and its original receipt for 716 CHF (you might want to forget this part). The second (and only other) owner purchased this a few years ago and kept it in the safe since then.
The movement came to us in great health, running at 0 s/d, 272 amplitude, with a 0.3 ms beat error. A perfect vintage Daytona that you simply can’t fault.