Porcelain ‘Floating Cosmograph’ 16528 Rolex Daytona

Porcelain-Rolex-Daytona-16528-Floating-Cosmograph

It is difficult to overstate the importance of the 16520 (or 16528 here in yellow gold). The Cosmograph had become undesirable and a stagnant seller by the year 1988. For context, there are stories from that era of customers asking to buy special production Day-Dates, but having to purchase Daytonas to sweeten the AD’s books.…

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6240 Rolex ‘Large-Daytona’

6240-Rolex-Cosmograph-Daytona-Large-Dial

We’re back in the realm of Wilsdorf details again, but for good reason. I’ve covered a majority of the Cosmograph and Daytona’s evolution through the market’s flux. The 6240 is a rare bird I have never had the pleasure to cover. I would venture to suppose it is, arguably, the most important Cosmograph reference no…

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16520 ‘Patrizzi’ Rolex Daytona

Rolex-Daytona-16520-Patrizzi

If you are beyond sick of the modern collecting Daytona hype (right there with you), don’t be so fast to turn away. In fact, I’m about to offer a viable, collectible, possibly even better-valued alternative. The now so-called neo-vintage range of 16520 and 116520 Daytonas are, to some extent, the last iterations with significant variations…

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Tropical Transitional 6262 Rolex Daytona

Tropical-6262-Rolex-Cosmograph-Daytona

Tropical dials have a tendency to polarize watch collectors like few other topics. Godiva 1665 DRSDs, caramel 321 Speedmasters, and latte-brown Cosmographs all have one thing in common: encompassing adoration or outright hatred. I have yet to encounter any middle ground ambivalence in the zeitgeist. Think Patek’s green 5711 caused division? Bring a hazel-tan 3700…

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6239 Rolex Cosmograph-Only Dial

Rolex-Cosmograph-6239

Inverse panda, pump pusher, steel bezel, single-line Cosmograph text: these are things dreams are made of. I admit to being a fan of this reference to an almost child-like extent. I’ll try to rein that in as I feature this example. You will be familiar with the Circuit de la Sarthe of the US, Daytona,…

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Non-Sigma 6263 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

Rolex-Cosmograph-Daytona-6263-Non-Sigma

Today we’re getting a little nerdy within steel sport Rolex. 6263s can be found in a wide range of configurations, even for an early sport Rolex reference. Of those that don’t have Daytona in above above the 6 o’clock subdial, most are what are called ‘sigma’ dials. Sigmas either side of Swiss Made indicate precious…

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Tiffany-Signed 6241 Steel Rolex Daytona

Rolex-Daytona-6241-Tiffany-Signed

Serpico, Beyer, Gubelin, Bucherer, Cartier, and above all Tiffany: these are the words that, when combined with a manufacture signature, collectors lose their cool over. I personally tend to gravitate towards the more obscure double-signatures. By that, I don’t mean Dominos. I mean things like this VC 6194 signed by Cartier. However, there are now…

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The Collector’s Cosmograph: 6265 Daytona in Yellow Gold

Rolex-6265-Cosmograph-Daytona-Yellow-Gold

It’s not hard to make the case for a gold Datyona. Some might call it predictable, even. Amongst vintage collectors, the Daytona has become such a theme that today it is its own genre. If you’re the kind of person willing to splash a hundred grand on a YG 6265, chances are this isn’t your…

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Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big-Eye

Rolex Daytona 6263 Big-Eye

For those uninitiated, sit comfortably and pour yourself a cup of coffee (or scotch, timezone dependent). The 6263 Big-Eye is one of my all time favorite references and here, over my morning coffee, I’ll explain why. I have been accused of being too partial to the great coronet, but there is a reason that ‘Rolex’…

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