Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces
New York, Mar 10, 2011
LOT 201
ROLEX STAINLESS STEEL REF.6238 WITH TRANSITIONAL DIAL Rolex, Chronograph, case No. 866448, Ref. 6238. Made in 1961. Exceptionally fine and very rare, stainless steel anti-magnetic wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers and a stainless steel Rolex buckle.
USD 30,000 - 50,000
CHF 30,000 - 50,000 / EUR 22,000 - 37,000
Sold: USD 40,000
C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, polished inclined bezel. D. Satine silver with applied steel dart indexes and luminous dots, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, outer minute track with Arabic 5 minute numerals. Luminous steel alpha hands. M. Cal. 72B, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2 |
Very good |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Notes
Released in 1962, the Ref. 6238 was an evolution of the earlier reference 6234 and remained featured in the 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, the 6238 was the last Rolex chronograph featured with a plain polished bezel. Usually offered with a silvered dial featuring baton markers and outer tachymetric scale, the simple and elegant dial presented on this model is a rare variation occasionally found on the earlier 6234 chronograph and features dart indexes with an outer minute track. Additionally the earlier 6234 dial usually featured the words 'Oyster Chronograph' and 'Anti-Magnetic', however the dials were changed for the 6238 to read only 'Chronograph', this example is one of the first Ref.6238 models manufactured and fitted with the previous reference 6234 dial. For another example of this dial in black on a reference 6234 see lot 233 in the September 12, 2009 Antiquorum New York auction. Offered in exceptional condition this watch retains thick shoulders and a crisp sharp case, the dial has virtually no signs of age with beautifully colored and matching luminescent in the makers and alpha hands.