THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 6234
YEAR: 1957
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 37mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: MANUAL WIND
In the world of vintage watch collecting, manual-wind Rolex Daytonas are perhaps the most curious case. Born in 1963 in the form of the Ref. 6239, this 37mm, three-register chronograph with a contrasting dial and Valjoux 72 movement was far from an instant success. It often sat in shop windows for months or even years before being sold at a discount. Over the next 25 years, Rolex made various subtle changes to the Daytona (Refs. 6241, 6262, 6263, 6265...), and eventually revamped the line with the automatic Zenith-powered Ref. 16520 in 1988.
Since then, four-digit Daytonas have slowly gained attention, but even in the early 2000s, they were still relatively affordable—many could be found for less than £10,000. It was only in the last 15 years or so that their popularity among collectors exploded, with good examples easily surpassing £50,000, while exotic dial variations, such as the Paul Newman Daytonas, now fetch six-figure sums. Perhaps this can be explained by their relative rarity—despite the 25-year production run, not many four-digit Daytonas were made (e.g., ~25,000 for Refs. 6263/6265, ~1,500-2,000 for Refs. 6262/6264).
However, using the same logic, one cannot explain why the present example, Ref. 6234—nicknamed the "Pre-Daytona"—still remains a hidden gem. Before the 6239, Rolex had already been producing chronographs for over two decades under the Oyster and non-Oyster series, beginning in the 1940s with the Refs. 2811 and 4500. In the 1950s, Rolex began incorporating Oyster cases and Valjoux 72 movements into their chronographs, setting the stage for the birth of the Daytona. The 6234 "Oyster Chronograph" we have here dates back to 1957, and it is simply one of the most beautiful watches we’ve had the chance to handle.
The original white dial has aged to a gorgeous creamy hue, while the black and blue printing remains exceptionally clear and sharp (no water ingress). We love the smaller sub-dials, which balance beautifully with the spearhead applied markers and the tachymeter outer ring. The case is in equally amazing condition, having seen a polishing wheel before but remaining full and honest. With its thinner smooth bezel, the watch wears larger than later Daytona models. The original Swiss rivet bracelet shows minimal stretch and can accommodate a 7+ inch wrist.
The watch arrived to us in excellent health, running at +3 s/d, 270 amps, with 0 beat error. Put this on your wrist, and you just might become (half) as cool as Dan Gurney (see last two pics).