Fine Watches
Fine Watches
‘The Badger’ Daytona, Ref. 6239 | A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch | Circa 1964
Lot Closed
September 7, 02:02 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Rolex
‘The Badger’ Daytona, Ref. 6239
A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch
Circa 1964
Dial: black dial with white subsidiary dials
Calibre: cal. 72B manual winding, 17 jewels
Case: stainless steel, screw-down case back
Case number: 1’091’002
Closure: Rolex stainless steel pin buckle
Dimensions: 37 mm
Signed: dial, case and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: Rolex Atelier de Restauration box with outer packaging and sleeve and restoration booklet, service invoice and paperwork
Introduced in 1963 and produced until 1976, reference 6239 was meant to compete with the chronographs from other brands such as Omega and Heuer who were gaining in popularity. Omega was the space watch, Heuer was the Formula 1 watch, but Rolex lacked a precise public. It then turned to Nascar and named its chronograph after the famous Daytona race track. The rest, of course, is history.
Powered by manual calibre 72B, which was largely based on caliber 72A with a modified regulator including the innovative Microstella system, reference 6239 stands as an example of Rolex’s quest for time accuracy and a crucial step in the development of the Swiss manufacturer’s most famous chronograph model: the Daytona.
A rare early reference of the 6239, the present watch features a dial without the "Oyster" and "Daytona" logo, accompanied by the correct bezel calibrated to 300 units and comes beautiful preserved retaining original proportions and would immediately become the protagonist of any collection.
Rolex 6239's which bear "Rolex Cosmograph" printed in white on a black dial are known by the community as the "Preist". The present watch is printed in white and silver, which we have playfully named the badger.
The watch has been restored by Rolex Atelier de Restauration.