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Lot Essay
Reference 6240 was the first "Oyster Cosmograph" model produced by Rolex. This innovation was marked predominantly by two things: the screw down push buttons and the designation "Oyster Cosmograph" on the dial.
However, what stands out about the present watch is its early non-Oyster dial, which makes no reference to the company's now standard screw down pushers. The watch, in fact, features a dial version better known on reference 6239, with the sought-after small, shifted Daytona designation. Only for a second generation of reference 6240, Rolex designed a dial with the Oyster denomination.
Other examples of Rolex chronograph models featuring the small "Daytona" designation are illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 238, 246 & 247 and in Rolex Daytona - A legend is Born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 46 & 51.
Meanwhile, the more standard version of the reference 6240 with "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph dial" is described and illustrated in Rolex Daytona - A Legend is Born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 76-92, in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda by Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 304-311, and in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, p. 239.
However, what stands out about the present watch is its early non-Oyster dial, which makes no reference to the company's now standard screw down pushers. The watch, in fact, features a dial version better known on reference 6239, with the sought-after small, shifted Daytona designation. Only for a second generation of reference 6240, Rolex designed a dial with the Oyster denomination.
Other examples of Rolex chronograph models featuring the small "Daytona" designation are illustrated in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 238, 246 & 247 and in Rolex Daytona - A legend is Born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 46 & 51.
Meanwhile, the more standard version of the reference 6240 with "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph dial" is described and illustrated in Rolex Daytona - A Legend is Born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 76-92, in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda by Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 304-311, and in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, p. 239.