Penelope Andrews
Head of Department
Lot 19
Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel manual wind chronograph bracelet watch Cosmograph Daytona 'Big Red', Ref: 6265/6263, Circa 1979
19 June 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£40,000 - £60,000
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Jonathan Darracott
Global Head
Charles Dower
Head of sale, Knightsbridge
Sarah Fergusson
Senior Specialist
George Kidwell
Senior Cataloguer
Edith Chong
Cataloguer
Joselyn Sizer
Sale Coordinator
Rolex. A fine and rare stainless steel manual wind chronograph bracelet watch
Model: Cosmograph Daytona 'Big Red'
Reference: 6265/6263
Date: Circa 1979
Movement: 17-jewel Valjoux Cal.727 manual wind, column wheel chronograph
Dial: Silvered, red Daytona, applied polished baton hour markers, black outer 1/5th second divisions with luminous dot 5 minute markers, subsidiary dials at 3, 6 and 9 for seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour recording, polished baton hands with luminous inserts, centre chronograph hand
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back stamped C.R.S. and 6263 inside, screw down Oyster crown flanked by twin screw down chronograph pushers, fixed calibrated bezel, No.6223519
Strap/Bracelet: Fitted 62510H Jubilee link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp, stamped J8
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 37mm
Reference: 6265/6263
Date: Circa 1979
Movement: 17-jewel Valjoux Cal.727 manual wind, column wheel chronograph
Dial: Silvered, red Daytona, applied polished baton hour markers, black outer 1/5th second divisions with luminous dot 5 minute markers, subsidiary dials at 3, 6 and 9 for seconds, 30 minute and 12 hour recording, polished baton hands with luminous inserts, centre chronograph hand
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back stamped C.R.S. and 6263 inside, screw down Oyster crown flanked by twin screw down chronograph pushers, fixed calibrated bezel, No.6223519
Strap/Bracelet: Fitted 62510H Jubilee link
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp, stamped J8
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 37mm
Footnotes
The Rolex Daytona continues to be among the most sought after of vintage watches on the market today. The bold contrast between the dial colour and the subsidiary dials makes this model instantly recognisable and as such it has long been lauded as a design icon. Both references 6263 and 6265 were launched in 1969, thus replacing the first Oyster Cosmograph 6240.
Although similar in many aspects, the main differentiating factor between the two new references was the choice of bezel. The 6263 featured a black insert with printed tachymetre, whereas the 6265, as with the current lot, presented to the market a smooth engraved metal bezel.