Rolex Daytona 6239 'Small Floating Daytona'

Sold
Sold
  • Free worldwide delivery

Another week, another drop with two highly desirable Valjoux Daytonas!The introduction of the ref. 6239 Daytona in 1963 was an important moment in Rolex history. Rolex had been producing chronographs since the 1930s. With some rare exceptions these were small, understated, rather dressy watches. The ref. 6239 firmly shifted Rolex’ chronograph line in the toolwatch direction.This ref. 6239 from 1966 is a beautiful example of this important Daytona reference. The watch sports a matte black dial with silver recessed sub-dials, which is referred to by enthusiasts as the ‘reverse panda’ dial. The black paint on the dial has aged to a cool slate grey tint that matches well with the white text and minute track. Furthermore, the dial features the desirable small ‘floating Daytona’ signature at the 12 o’ clock position.Even though the Daytona was intended as a tool watch (particularly aimed at race car drivers), its classically sized 36 mm stainless steel case allows you to move from the racetrack to the casino without having to adjust your wrist. We particularly love the pump pushers on this reference. Although it makes the watch less water resistant (hence the absence of the "Oyster" designation on the dial), the slim shape adds to its sporty elegance. To complete the package, this 6239 comes on an original folded Oyster bracelet.

Introduction

Rolex Cosmograph DaytonaRolex started making chronographs in the 1930s, but it was only in 1963 that a named product line was introduced: the Cosmograph. In some early advertisements, Rolex referred to the watch as the ‘Le Mans’ after the famous race track in France, although the name never appeared on the dial. After a few years, the line was officially renamed Cosmograph Daytona, after the racetrack in Florida.The most noticeable difference between these Cosmograph (Daytona) models and earlier Rolex chronographs was the tachymeter scale (used for measuring distance and speed) that was moved from its traditional placement on the dial to the bezel. Furthermore, the dial was updated with the introduction of contrasting sub-dials.It's hard to imagine now, but Daytonas received little love after their release. Most Daytonas languished in dealer displays for years and only started to get noticed by Italian collectors and dealers in the late 1980s. Nowadays, Daytonas are among the most sought after Rolex models, fetching prices from $20,000 for modern ones to many millions for rare vintage references. A big contrast with the $210 list price when it was first released!Non-waterproof 62xx DaytonasThe ref. 6239 is the first Rolex Cosmograph reference to follow the 6238 (also known as the ‘pre-Daytona’). Between 1963 and 1972, four references featuring pump pushers were produced. As pump pushers meant that these watches were not water resistant, they featured dials without "Oyster" designation. The following four references were produced in this period:

  • Ref. 6239: Produced from 1963-1969 in steel or gold, with a metal bezel
  • Ref. 6241: Produced from 1966-1969 in steel or gold, with a metal bezel and black acrylic inlay
  • Ref. 6262: Produced in 1970 and 1971 in steel or gold, with a metal bezel
  • Ref. 6264: Produced from 1970-1972 in steel or gold, with a metal bezel and black acrylic inlay

Specifications

Shipping

Packages are generally dispatched within 2 days after receipt of payment and are shipped within the Netherlands by Registered Mail through the Dutch carrier PostNL and for other countries by Fedex. Consult us if you prefer another method of shipping. For most destinations tracking is available.