Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 8

So-called ?Pre-Daytona? Rolex, Oyster Chronograph, Ref. 6238. Made in 1965. Very fine, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman?s wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet.

CHF 25,000 - 30,000

EUR 16,000 - 19,000 / USD 20,000 - 25,000

Sold: CHF 32,200

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, polished inclined bezel. D. Satiné silver with applied steel bâton indexes and tritium coated dots, subsidiary ?guilloché? dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers. Tritium-coated steel "bâton" hands. M. Cal. 722 B, rhodium plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness: 14 mm.

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Image

Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3-6

Good

Slightly oxidized

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-5-01

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 6238. This reference, which collectors call the "Pre-Daytona", was produced in stainless steel and in 14K and 18K gold. It was published for the first time in the Rolex catalogue for the Italian Market in 1964 and remained there until 1967. Its production is estimated at 3,600 examples from 1962 to 1967. Similar watches are published in "Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches", by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Guido Mondani Editore, Genova 2001, pp. 434 to 438 and 487.