Vintage Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
Discussion
Does anyone know anything about this Daytona 'series' (Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Men's Steel Watch 6239).
Looks very much like the pre-Daytonas which appear to fetch 20k to 50k generally and some even more.
This one is starting to look attainable but seems cheap compared to others and not crazy money compared to modern, steel Daytonas:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Rolex-Cosmograph-Day...
It looks like it could do with a trip to Rolex for a case polish, black the numbers back in and maybe a service, but how much would that cost?
One of the Paul Newman era Daytonas would be perfect, but I am starting to love the understated style of this and at half the money or so... I find myself staring at it A LOT.
Or could it be 'dodgy'?
Dom H - Do you ever deal in these?
Looks very much like the pre-Daytonas which appear to fetch 20k to 50k generally and some even more.
This one is starting to look attainable but seems cheap compared to others and not crazy money compared to modern, steel Daytonas:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Rolex-Cosmograph-Day...
It looks like it could do with a trip to Rolex for a case polish, black the numbers back in and maybe a service, but how much would that cost?
One of the Paul Newman era Daytonas would be perfect, but I am starting to love the understated style of this and at half the money or so... I find myself staring at it A LOT.
Or could it be 'dodgy'?
Dom H - Do you ever deal in these?
Edited by dom9 on Thursday 5th August 08:30
I can't see the link whilst at work, so not much help from me. However Blowers Jewellers have a Cosmograph Daytona 6239 with Paul Newman dial for £65,000 ...
http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/rolex_daytona_6...
If you look on their website under latest stock, the watch was added on the 31st July
http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/rolex_daytona_6...
If you look on their website under latest stock, the watch was added on the 31st July
Ikemi said:
I can't see the link whilst at work, so not much help from me. However Blowers Jewellers have a Cosmograph Daytona 6239 with Paul Newman dial for £65,000 ...
http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/rolex_daytona_6...
If you look on their website under latest stock, the watch was added on the 31st July
I got their email the other day... Sadly, that is well out of reach for now!http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/rolex_daytona_6...
If you look on their website under latest stock, the watch was added on the 31st July
I also wonder whether they might be getting a bit 'toppy' and could even lose some value. Now, I wouldn't necessarily be buying as an investment, but I would be in serious pain if I spent that on a watch, only to see it depreciate heavily! Then again, they could keep going up!
I'd be very surprised if it were 'dodgy' in any way TBH. The movement pretty much stops it being a reasonable-money fake, and if it's a frankenwatch then the watch the movement came out of would have been pretty damned expensive itself. Yes, that style of manual-wind column-wheel chrono was bought by Sea-Gull and is still made, but sure as hell *not* with a screwed balance, which NONE of the counterfeiters would be able to build themselves. There's no NOS left of the Lemania (IIRC) base movements and the screwed balance (again) is the sticker - anyone making a frankenwatch would have to find one of the few manufacture watches that used the Lemania movement and *then* upgraded it with a screwed balance (Rolex and Vacheron and *maybe* Patek are the only few I can think of at the moment - neither of those two are going to be cheaper than Rolex 
) - actually, maybe one more - wasn't there an old Breitling with a two-register chrono with upgraded screwed balance-wheel on this forum recently? That'd be feasible as a donor watch but again, who the hell rips apart a very valuable watch in order to attempt to make a frankenRolex that's not worth much more, even if the buyer *is* suckered in completely?
The engraving between the lugs on the case *does* look cheap as hell and I've seen better fakes - but it's a much older watch and again, the movement makes it.
However compared to the later Daytonas… the issue was the fact that the older ones were manual-wind, and once Rolex got their hands on Zenith's El Primero, they had an *automatic* chronograph. That was the big deal. To many, an automatic mechanical is a different beast to a manual-wind mechanical - and to me, that Daytona, whilst lovely and possessing a lovely movement, doesn't 'look' like a Daytona to me - I suppose the later design and fatter case is the 'Daytona' shape to me. But don't listen to me - that watch is probably going to be a huge investment for someone… god knows who pays £65k for an old watch, but I guess it's only a matter of proportion - people 20 times richer than me, presumably
You'd need to have serious insurance though when owning pieces like that. And I'd be paranoid winding the thing when the crown started to meet some resistance….
) - actually, maybe one more - wasn't there an old Breitling with a two-register chrono with upgraded screwed balance-wheel on this forum recently? That'd be feasible as a donor watch but again, who the hell rips apart a very valuable watch in order to attempt to make a frankenRolex that's not worth much more, even if the buyer *is* suckered in completely?The engraving between the lugs on the case *does* look cheap as hell and I've seen better fakes - but it's a much older watch and again, the movement makes it.
However compared to the later Daytonas… the issue was the fact that the older ones were manual-wind, and once Rolex got their hands on Zenith's El Primero, they had an *automatic* chronograph. That was the big deal. To many, an automatic mechanical is a different beast to a manual-wind mechanical - and to me, that Daytona, whilst lovely and possessing a lovely movement, doesn't 'look' like a Daytona to me - I suppose the later design and fatter case is the 'Daytona' shape to me. But don't listen to me - that watch is probably going to be a huge investment for someone… god knows who pays £65k for an old watch, but I guess it's only a matter of proportion - people 20 times richer than me, presumably
You'd need to have serious insurance though when owning pieces like that. And I'd be paranoid winding the thing when the crown started to meet some resistance….
Thank you for the very thorough post, Cyberface, as always!
And thanks to Dom H, as always, for your email.
I don't think I will leap on this one immediately, though I will keep my eye on it and keep my eyes open for a softening in the UK market or over here (Singapore), if one happens.
I understand that a hand wind may never be as desirable as an auto and that many people will prefer the later, chunkier case but I love the delicacy and clean lines of this piece and the price isn't unrealistic compared to what some are trying to charge for a modern SS Daytona.
Plus, it will be relatively unique, which is worth a lot to me (I always loved the Daytona but two of my best friends now have them).
65k for a PN Daytona, even if (when, being positive) I could afford it, I think I would struggle to rationalise paying so much for a watch. My last two purchases (Rolex ND Sub & IWC Spitfire Chrono) are great for day to day, but it would be nice to have some special and the 'vintage' nature of it adds a little something IMHO.
And thanks to Dom H, as always, for your email.
I don't think I will leap on this one immediately, though I will keep my eye on it and keep my eyes open for a softening in the UK market or over here (Singapore), if one happens.
I understand that a hand wind may never be as desirable as an auto and that many people will prefer the later, chunkier case but I love the delicacy and clean lines of this piece and the price isn't unrealistic compared to what some are trying to charge for a modern SS Daytona.
Plus, it will be relatively unique, which is worth a lot to me (I always loved the Daytona but two of my best friends now have them).
65k for a PN Daytona, even if (when, being positive) I could afford it, I think I would struggle to rationalise paying so much for a watch. My last two purchases (Rolex ND Sub & IWC Spitfire Chrono) are great for day to day, but it would be nice to have some special and the 'vintage' nature of it adds a little something IMHO.
dom9 said:
I don't think I will leap on this one immediately, though I will keep my eye on it and keep my eyes open for a softening in the UK market or over here (Singapore), if one happens..
Visio Time (www.visiotime.com) sometimes get some nice old pieces and you can go and handle the piece at their shop too, ground floor of Republic Plaza.XJSJohn said:
dom9 said:
I don't think I will leap on this one immediately, though I will keep my eye on it and keep my eyes open for a softening in the UK market or over here (Singapore), if one happens..
Visio Time (www.visiotime.com) sometimes get some nice old pieces and you can go and handle the piece at their shop too, ground floor of Republic Plaza.Off I go to that webpage to look for the old school Daytona - They haven't got any, so my money is safe.
Oh, but wait, they sell all sorts of vintage watches/ brands... While I am here, I might as well have a look for the watch I was going to buy to keep me amused until I could afford the vintage Daytona. They only have one, don't they, in perfect condition:
http://www.visiotime.com/index.php?page=ProductDet...
Yes, maybe viewed as the poor man's Daytona (though not cheap at that money - can you haggle?) but it is the design I love. I have been looking for that EXACT model in that condition for months, literally. Neil at Chronomaster had a new, old stock one but had sold it by the time I got in touch. Have seen a few 2nd hand around the 2k mark, but possibly not in this condition. They seem more expensive on the continent and I have been wary of buying without handling it first.
I had even started Googling for vintage Tudor shops in Singapore the other week - I knew I should have just asked you!
Looks like I am going to have to walk down there tonight but the air-con guys are coming (for the 3rd day in a row) to fix the air con in our new place at 5pm
Can it wait 'til tomorrow? they don't look like they open for long on a Saturday! Should I buy another watch... I am meant to be saving.... Why did this have to happen!?!?!?
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