Rolex

Rolex made its first waterproof watch in 1926 but not until 1965 did the maison decide to introduce a waterproofed Oyster case into its chronograph lineup. Being the forefather of the "Oyster Cosmograph" family, reference 6240 incorporated screw down pushers and it was a true prototype to meet the high demand of a waterproof Daytona alongside the non-Oyster reference 6239. Always known for mass production in Rolex, reference 6240 was already a rare and fascinating start of the Daytona journey with estimated 1700 examples made exclusively in stainless steel during the 5 short years of production.

The current watch not only is a scarce example of the reference, it is packed with many intrinsic qualities to be admired. Highly coveted, the first thing that pops to the eye is the beautifully aged tropical registers, the natural brown color is surely something to be in love with. Still housing the dial of the non-waterproofed 6239, the word “Oyster” was replaced by a proudly stamped enlarged “Daytona”, hence bearing the nickname “Big Logo” for this amazing transitional model.

What separates this current piece from other 6240s is that it features an unconventional big logo jubilee bracelet, which changed the appeal of the watch and made it even more special. Rolex had been outsourcing certain parts to manufacturers as standard practice back in the day, some of the jubilee bracelets were made in the USA and they had distinct oval-shaped links as presented in this fabulous example.

Evidently the reference 6240 marked the blueprint of all future Daytona models. The acrylic bezel insert, screw down pushers and the big “Daytona” logo all contain the aesthetics of the current models but with a vintage appeal. Complete with box and guarantee, it is a unique find for a vintage Rolex at this age.