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View full screen - View 1 of Lot 1. ROLEX | REFERENCE 6239 'DOUBLE SWISS UNDERLINE' DAYTONA   A STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH REGISTERS, CIRCA 1963.

ROLEX | REFERENCE 6239 'DOUBLE SWISS UNDERLINE' DAYTONA A STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH REGISTERS, CIRCA 1963

Lot Closed

September 4, 04:01 PM GMT

Estimate

70,000 - 90,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

ROLEX


REFERENCE 6239 'DOUBLE SWISS UNDERLINE' DAYTONA

A STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH REGISTERS, CIRCA 1963


Dial: black

Caliber: cal. Valjoux 72B mechanical, 17 jewels

Case: stainless steel, screw-down case back

Case number: 923'156, inner case back 6238

Closure: stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp 

Size: 36 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 195 mm

Signed: case, dial and movement

Accessories: none

Rolex’s beloved Daytona line was introduced in 1963 with reference 6239 - the first chronograph with an engraved tachometer scale on the bezel. Remaining in production until 1976, it was available in stainless steel, 14k gold, and 18k gold. The present watch features a very rare and desirable “Double Swiss Underline” dial, which is only seen in the earliest examples of this reference. Bearing the serial number 923’156, this example can be dated back to 1963, making it one of the earliest examples to come to market. Fitted with its correct Mark 1 bezel calibrated to 300 units per hour, it can be easily identified by the 275 units per hour marking nestled between 300 and 250 units per hour – a trait that can only be found on the earliest pieces. As a result of the larger Cosmograph bezel, Rolex had to duplicate the SWISS stamping in order to make it visible on the dial. There is in fact another “SWISS” designation millimeters beneath the second one, found at the dial’s lower edge by 6 o’clock.


The silvered ‘Underline” found directly below the Rolex Cosmograph signature is believed to be an indication of the transition between radium to tritium. The ‘Underline’ is a characteristic seen on only a handful of other early Rolex sports models, and today, is highly desirable for its rarity.


The present watch is fresh-to-the-market, and the case is in good original condition. The overall condition, paired with its rarity, makes this a trophy watch for collectors of vintage Rolex.