ROLEX, DAYTONA REF. 6239, A RARE STAINLESS STEEL MANUAL-WINDING CHRONOGRAPH

CASE NUMBER: 1’475’658

Details

CIRCA: 1966
CASE MATERIAL: Stainless steel
DIAMETER: 36 mm.
BRACELET: Rolex Oyster stainless steel bracelet stamped 7835 19, end links stamped 257
DIAL: Black with silver sub-dials, with T-Swiss-T markings
MOVEMENT: Cal. 72 B, manual-winding, 17 jewels
FUNCTIONS: Time, chronograph, tachymeter
BUCKLE: Rolex stainless steel folding buckle, stamped 2 71


Lot Essay

The reference 6239 was the very first model of the celebrated "Daytona" series and could be found in sales catalogues in Europe as of 1964, though it is thought that the model was available in the US already in 1963.
This model was available in stainless steel, 14k and 18k gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachometer scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different colour than the main dial for better readability.
The present watch is a notable example and its serial number dates to circa 1966. The balance bridge of the movement is stamped ROW – Rolex’s import code for the United States indicating that this watch was first sold in the US market.