Ref. 6238 sans-tritium According to our research this example is the first known steel Rolex Ref. 6238 to appear at public auction with factory non-tritium dial and hands. Examples of the earlier ref. 6234 and 6034 Rolex chronographs without tritium dots and identical plain alpha hands can be found documented in various books, however no 6238 without tritium are illustrated in major publications. Rolex offered their earlier chronograph and triple-calendar watches with both luminous and non-luminous options, however by the 1960's luminous dials and hands became standard on steel chronograph models. (For an example of a non-luminous Ref. 6062 see lot 169.) Close examination of the dial reveals no luminous was applied at the factory and the hands are typical Rolex alpha design used on earlier examples. The dial is still signed T SWISS T, indicating the use of tritium, in the same manner the later-produced CERN dial Milgauss (see preceding lot) was similarly stamped, although no tritium was present. Although the variation is minor, the visual difference is quite significant, providing the wearer with a cleaner, more elegant dial. The original owner believes the watch was purchased while he was stationed in Asia serving in the US Air Force.