Rolex Pre-Daytona Ref. 6234s
Given the penchant for and plethora of nicknames for Rolexes, with new ones appearing for each fresh colour scheme, a glossary will one day be needed to explain them all. While ‘Pepsi’ on a GMT-Master is easy to understand, among the more vague is ‘Pre-Daytona’. This is the catch-all for Rolex chronographs which came immediately before the ones with ‘Cosmograph’ on the dial, in 1962, and ‘Daytona’ in 1964. A pedant, however, could argue that it covers every Rolex chronograph going all the way back to the 1930s, because they, too, are technically Pre-Daytona.
Rolex Zerographe Ref. 3346
Clarity, however, has eliminated such rarities as the mono-pusher Zerograph and Centregraph (both of which are so rare that six figures is the starting bid) from being grouped with the mainstream of Pre-Daytonas, as are the two-subdial models of the 1940s. These were usually Valjoux-powered and dressier than their illustrious grandchildren, looking as much like Patek Philippe Ref. 1463s as they do classic Oysters. Come the 1950s, however, and the dial layout now familiar to all who covet Paul Newman’s watch of choice began to emerge.
Rolex Snow Compax Ref. 6036
Leaving aside such anomalies as the ‘Jean-Claude Killy’, the nickname for the 1950s triple-calendar chronographs such as the Ref. 6036, Rolex chronographs of that decade began as two-subdial models. By the end of the decade and into the early 1960s, Rolex chronographs acquired a third counter located at the 6 o’clock position, in what is known as a tri-compax array. Trivia note: As Universal Genève called some of its models Tri-Compaxes, the legend printed right on their dials, other makers tend not to use that nomenclature.
Rolex Pre-Daytona Ref. 6034
There were still a few more changes before the chronographs would become, firstly, Cosmographs, and secondly Daytonas (or Cosmograph Daytonas). The Pre-Daytonas featured plain, smooth bezels, as on Air-Kings and Explorers, and lacked the engraved tachymetre found on all Daytona bezels. Instead, Pre-Daytonas’ tachymetre scales were printed on the dials, surrounding the chapter rings. Another design feature which would not appear until the Cosmographs and Daytonas were subdials in colours contrasting with the main dial colour, such as Pandas and Reverse Pandas.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6239
Whole books are dedicated to the Daytona, of which the most famous is – of course – the ‘exotic’ model known universally as the ‘Paul Newman’ References 6239, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264 and 6265, depending on dial colour combination, case material, etc. In the scheme of things, this was a ‘bridge’ model between the Pre-Daytonas and the modern Daytonas in that it was manually wound, with the Valjoux movement found in its predecessors. After Zenith developed the automatic El Primero calibre in 1969, Rolex used it in subsequent Daytonas, ultimately releasing their own in-house chronograph movement at the turn of this century.
Rolex Pre-Daytona Ref. 6238
Depending on your level of pedantry, there are numerous models which qualify as Pre-Daytonas. General usage of the label applies primarily to the relatively uncluttered Ref. 6238, but also 6234, 6239, etc. While prices may never match those of models with engraved tachymetres, let alone the exotic dials of the Paul Newmans, values are climbing as the latter become less attainable. A quick look at what is available in 2022 suggests that Ref. 6238s sell for £40,000-£60,000. Alas, I am old enough to remember when they cost four figures.
More details at Rolex.
