Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2008

LOT 122

Pre-Daytona, ?George Lazenby Watch? Rolex, ?Chronograph,? case No. 1000363, Ref. 6238. Made in 1964. Very fine and rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and a stainless steel Oyster bracelet.

HKD 300,000 - 350,000

USD 40,000 - 46,000 / EUR 25,000 - 28,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, polished inclined bezel. D. Satiné silver with applied steel baton indexes and luminous dots, subsidiary guilloché dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, outer minute/seconds division, outermost tachometer scale. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. 72B, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx. overall length 180 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-22-01

Good

Later original

HANDS Original

Notes

IIn 1962 the Ref. 6234 evolved into the Ref. 6238 and was featured in Rolex catalogues until 1968. This reference is also called ?Pre-Daytona? by collectors and was produced in stainless steel and in 14K and 18K gold. It appeared for the first time in the Rolex catalogue for the Italian Market in 1964, remaining there until 1968. Production is estimated at 3,600 examples from 1962 to 1967. The ref. 6238 was not yet an ?Oyster? and did not have a screw-down winding crown or timing buttons.
George Lazenby (b. September 5th, 1939, Goulburn, Australia) Interpreted the role of James Bond in ?Her Mayesty?s Secret Service?, 1969. During agent 007?s mission at the Piz Gloria (Murren, Switzerland), the actor is seen to wear a Rolex Ref. 6238, similar to the present watch. In the same film Lazenby also wore a Rolex Ref. 5513. Similar watches are published in ?1908-2008, 100th anniversary of Rolex? by Franca and Guido Mondani, pp. 105-106.