Here are a few Rolex chronographs that I have collected.
Some of my favorite chronographs are the early ones before "Daytona" was printed on the dial.
Rolex Oyster Chronograph reference 6234 with small registers, calibre 72A, with tachymeter and telemeter scales printed on the dial.
I like the small registers with "anti-magnetic" in an arc over the lower register as some had "anti-magnetic" in a straight line. I also like the telemeter scale which is printed in blue.
Rolex Oyster Chronograph reference 6234, calibre 72A, small registers with original jubilee bracelet.
The so called "Pre-Daytona" Rolex Chronograph reference 6238 caliber 72B, note that the word "Oyster" is absent from the dial.
I especially like the patina this dial has with the silver printing taking on a gold patina. Also the black dial has some warm chocolate patina.
Rolex Cosmograph reference 6239, caliber 72B, was the first Rolex chronograph to use the word "Cosmograph". The first examples had the word "Daytona" in small letters below "Rolex Cosmograph".
This is a little later example with "Daytona" printed a bit larger.
This a rare variation Rolex 6239 calibre 72B with "Daytona" in red in an arc over the lower register. While red "Daytona" was being used on "Paul Newman" dials, red "Daytona" did not appear on non "Paul Newman" dials until later on reference 6263 and 6265.
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, calibre 72B, reference 6239 with a "Paul Newman" dial
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6239, calibre 72B with a black "Paul Newman" dial
The last of the non screw down pusher Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas are reference 6262, calibre 727, circa 1970. The calibre 727 was a refined version with a beat of 21,600 vibrations per hour in an effort to increase accuracy. All previous Rolex Valjoux 72 based calibres had a beat of 18,000 vibrations per hour. Most of the Rolex 6262 Cosmographs had "Daytona" in black (or silver, depending on dial color) like this example although it could also have the "Paul Newman" dial.
The first screw down pusher reference was Rolex 6240.
This is Rolex reference 6265, calibre 727, red "Daytona"
Rolex reference 6263, calibre 727, red "Daytona"
This watch is in NOS condition and was purchased in a Burger King parking lot from the original owner, complete with everything, just as he purchased it from a Zurich retailer on a previous trip to Europe. Lucky for me the original owner decided the watch did not suit him and upon returning home from his trip never wore the watch again.
I am going to have to get a bigger box!
Collecting Rolex chronographs has become one of my passions and I never dreamed that I would ever be so fortunate to find all of these examples.
Hope you enjoyed.
