ROLEX

Ref. 6239
No. 1083432
Circa 1964
A stainless steel automatic chronograph wristwatch
Case: round, brushed tachymeter bezel with 300-mark base, screw-down crown with logo, round pushers, screw-down caseback numbered “6239”
Dial: anthracite-coloured patina “-T SWISS T-” known as “Reverse Panda”, applied grey baton hour markers with “pumpkin”-coloured patina tritium dots, painted minute track, grey hands with tritium, central chronograph seconds hand, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, signed
Movement: manual-winding mechanical, signed - Calibre 72B based on Valjoux 72
Strap/Clasp: riveted-link steel Oyster bracelet with folding clasp, signed
Diameter 36 mm
Wrist circumference: approx. 17 cm 

Provenance: Descendant of the original owner.

An iconic reference among Rolex collectors, released in 1963, the 6239 represents a major turning point for the brand. The first chronograph to be called Daytona; legend has it that Rolex initially wanted to call it Le Mans, but Yema had already launched its Le Mans range, so the brand with the crown opted for the name Daytona, which was also more evocative for the American market (a market Rolex was keen to conquer). Nevertheless, the first models did not yet bear the Daytona name on the dial.
All the elements of a pilot’s chronograph are present, including the steel tachymeter bezel, the dial with a ⅕-minute scale for precise reading of measured times, and a generous diameter of 36 millimetres. 
Our version features an interesting technical detail: the brushed steel bezel, which was only present on the earliest versions of the 6239.
The effects of time on our example offer a variety of patinas: a black dial that has turned anthracite, blue Cosmograph markings and pumpkin-coloured tritium markers.