This watch was previously featured on
Monochrome’s
The Collector’s Series, in 2016, when it was owned by
Kristian Haagen, the author, photographer, and all round watch-obsessive. Haagen acquired the
Cosmograph from the original owner, who had left the watch in a drawer, since in 1965, as one of the pushers had come off (and was replaced with a service pusher, during its first ever service, carried out by
Rolex, in May 2015).
The origins of the
Cosmograph begin in 1963, with the reference
6239. Designed as the ultimate tool watch for endurance racing drivers, the
Daytona, featured clean styling, with excellent resistance to both shock and moisture. The original concept was ‘
The Rolex LeMans’, featured in early
Rolex advertisements. In 1964,
Rolex later introduced the
“Daytona” signature to the
Cosmograph dial, signifying the brand’s sponsorship of the annual 24 Hours of
Daytona race, held in Daytona Beach, Florida. The signature was first placed at 12 o’clock, under the word
“Cosmograph”.
The earliest reference
6239’s pre-dates the
“Daytona” signature, though still the designation is used, given their importance to the entire
Daytona line. These examples were also the first
Rolex chronographs to feature the tachymetric scale directly on the bezel, rather than printing on the outer-circumference of the dial. The engraved tachymeter served to improve the legibility of the indicators, while the subsidiary registers were also printed in contrasting colours, against the silver and black, base-colour dials.
This
Cosmograph Datyona 6239, from 1964 (with serial number 109XXXX), has its original, sunburst Soleil silver dial, with
’ROLEX’ and
‘COSMOGRAPH’ references, and
T Swiss T at 6 o'clock. With this example, the original tritium hour markers are entirely complete, with the
Daytona handset displays a similarly impressive condition. It has its correct sub-dial hands, showing a slimmer hand at 9 o’clock and tapered hands for the remaining registers.
Sized at 37.5mm, the case is superbly preserved, with clear edges displayed on its lugs and defined case-back milling on the reverse. The brushed finish on the lugs is clearly visible, while the polished sides are in excellent condition. The watch also has its original tachymeter bezel, Twinlock crown and comes equipped with its stamped,
Rolex Oyster riveted bracelet and clasp (stamped 2 64). The original bracelet is also preserved in excellent condition, with minimal stretch throughout and correct ’57’ end-links.
Inside the watch, it houses a 17-jewel, manual-winding
Valjoux 72 movement (or
“72B”), signed
“Rolex Geneve” - the same tried and tested column-wheel chronograph calibre, famed for its reliability, and shared by many of the era’s most iconic timepieces. The mechanism features a Breguet overcool hairspring, adjustable-inertia balance wheel, and a KIF shock-absorber, beating at a rate of 18,000 A/h, with a power-reserve of approximately 46 hours.
The
Rolex Daytona represents one of the most celebrated watches in the brand’s history. Considered a “grail” piece by many collectors, this
ref. 6239 represents a key inflection point in advancement of the
Rolex sports chronograph, and thus a special piece in the evolution of the line. The
Daytona has undergone many subtle design alternations over the years - in some instances, starting entirely new categories. The reference
6239, is an early, important and understated
Daytona, that rightly elicits attention from the wider
Rolex community.
This
Rolex Cosmograph ref. 6239 is accompanied by its
Rolex outer box, inner box, and
Rolex service card from May, 2015. It also comes with a
Rolex strap, and
Rolex stainless steel buckle.
Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment.
