6238 with black printing on a silver surface is nice, but nothing special; if you turn it around however, you have something very coveted: A rare, very sought-after and historically important model; being the father of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona as we know it today. The reference 6238 belongs to the the last line of watches that didn’t bear a model name on the dial. However, it’s known among collectors and aficionados as the ‘Pre-Daytona’; albeit this reference being in production alongside the 6239. This 36mm measuring timepiece has a lot to offer; both aesthetically and mechanically. It is powered by a celebrated Valjoux caliber, housed in a sleek Oyster case with round pump-pushers. The slightly domed, smooth bezel gives it a pleasant sophistication, unknown to most toolwatches. The monochrome dial is unostentatious and pragmatism seems paramount, unlike the less comprehensible and more crowded dial design of most earlier Rolex chronographs. These 60's chronographs without the tachymeter scale on the bezel, always flew a bit under the radar. In terms of collectability, most attention goes out to the well-known and often studied Cosmograph Daytona. But there is a huge exception: the black dialled versions. Only a couple thousand 6238's have ever been produced, but the lion share of that small number (most likely over 95%) feature a light coloured dial. We are thrilled to showcase this incredible example that provides a perfect balance between austerity and elegance. The "-T SWISS T-" dial has silver printing, complementing the material of the case and bracelet. The dark surface shows some small blemishes, barely visible with the naked eye, and not taking away any of the charm. The correct small minute hand is mounted and the original thin register hands are too. The white lacquer on these, including the arrow of the second counter, is still perfect. The case is well-preserved and the riveted Oyster bracelet is ready to be worn for decades to come. Opportunities to own a "Black night" don't come around very often so make sure not to sleep on this chance.
- year1965
- reference6238
- modelOyster Chronograph
