Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 13, 2016

LOT 559

ROLEX REF. 6238 PRE-DAYTONA WITH TROPICAL TRANSITIONAL 6234 DIAL STEEL Rolex, Geneve. Case No. 866302, Ref. 6238. Made in 1961. Very fine and rare, water-resistant, manual winding, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers and tachometer with a stainless steel Rolex Ref. 7835 folded bracelet.

CHF 50,000 - 80,000

HKD 400,000 - 650,000 / USD 51,000 - 81,000

Sold: CHF 305,000

Three-body, polished and brushed, curved lugs, inclined bezel, screwed-down case back and Oyster crown. Tropical brown with applied steel dart indexes and luminous dots, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, outer 1/5th seconds/minutes division. Luminous steel dart hands. Cal. 72A, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to three positions, shock absorber, self-compensating breguet balance spring.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-7-01

Very good

Oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 13 mm. Approx. overall length 175 mm. Bought new in Switzerland, the owner was an aircraft engineer at a Swiss military airport. After receiving a new job opportunity, he left for Brazil with the watch where he stayed for another 10 years before returning to Switzerland. Still equipped with the caliber 72A, as found on REFERENCES 6234, it is commonly known that some of the earlier 6238, still had the characteristics of the earlier references as ROLEX was probably finishing up their remaining stock of parts. The dial has aged to a most amazing shade of brown but remaining in excellent condition with the beautifully designed tachometer and telemeter scales. Without a doubt, the nicest example to have been offered at auction these last 20 years and furthermore has never been on the market before. Property of the Original Swiss Owner