Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

New York, Mar 10, 2010

LOT 49

Rolex Stainless Steel Ref. 6238, Pre-Daytona Rolex, Chronograph, case No. 1000231, Ref. 6238. Made circa 1960. Very fine and rare, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and a stainless steel Jubilee bracelet.

USD 15,000 - 20,000

EUR 11,000 - 15,000 / CHF 16,000 - 21,000

Sold: USD 19,200

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, polished inclined bezel. D. Satine silver with applied steel baton indexes and luminous dots, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, outer 1/5th seconds track and tachometer scale. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. 72B, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-9

Good

Scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-7-01

Good

Oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 6238 In 1962 the Ref. 6234 evolved into the Reference 6238 and featured in the Rolex catalogues until 1968. This reference is also called "Pre-Daytona" by collectors and 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 1968. Its production is estimated at 3,600 examples from 1962 to 1967. The Ref. 6238 was not yet an "Oyster" version and did not have a screw-down winding crown or screw-down timing buttons. The Reference 6238 was the first new chronograph model launched after Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf?s death in 1960.
Similar watches are published in ?Rolex Daytona: a Legend is Born?, Best Edition 2006, by Pergola, Mazzariol, Dosso, pp. 6 - 42.