Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 11, 2012

LOT 280

ROLEX REF. 6238 BLACK NO TRITIUM DIAL Rolex, ?Chronograph?, case No. 866492, Ref. 6238. Made circa 1962. Very fine and extremely rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster riveted bracelet.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

USD 66,000 - 87,000 / EUR 50,000 - 66,000

Sold: CHF 92,500

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, polished inclined bezel. D. Black with applied steel baton indexes, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, outer 1/5th seconds track and tachometer graduation to 1000 UPH. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. 72B, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to three positions, shock absorber, self-compensating fl at balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx overall length 180 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 6238 sans-tritium 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. Close examination of the dial reveals no luminous was applied at the factory. The dial is still signed T SWISS T, indicating the use of tritium, in the same manner the laterproduced CERN dial Milgauss was similarly stamped, although no tritium was present. Although the variation is minor, the visual difference is quite signifi cant, providing the wearer with a cleaner, more elegant dial.