1973 Rolex Oyster Cosmograph 'Daytona' Sigma Dial Ref. 6265 With Box And Manuals
Why This Watch Matters The sneaky Daytona, this Sigma dialed Oyster Cosmograph hides in plain sight. The Full Story The Rolex Daytona has reached downright legendary status and is widely considered to be one of the most desirable watches in existence, regardless of being vintage or contemporary. It all started in 1963 when Rolex debuted the ref. 6239. The so-called "Cosmograph" was a chronograph with a tachymeter on the bezel and was originally marketed toward drivers. Fun Fact: Rolex actually referred to this model as the "Le Mans" in early advertisements before it became the official timekeeper of Daytona International Speedway in Florida. In 1971, the last generation of manually-wound Daytonas was announced with the ref. 6263 and ref. 6265, the difference between the two being the 6263's black acrylic bezel and the 6265's steel (or gold) bezel. The "Cosmograph" we have here dates to 1973, early in the 6265 run, and, we can assure you, it's not like all those other Daytonas. Hiding in plain sight, our "Sigma Dial" is devoid of any Daytona branding at all, sticking to simply "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph." An if-you-know-you-know Daytona in more ways than your standard vintage Cosmograph. Tucked below the hour marker at six o'clock are a couple of funky circles. These Sigma symbols indicate that the hour markers and hands of a watch were made of gold – in this case, white gold. It was an effort by the Swiss watch industry trade association, l’Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l'Or (APRIOR), to emphasize the value of Swiss watches using any gold material. This Sigma designation can be seen in other timepieces around the same time, such as on the dial of a Patek Philippe Nautilus. Our Daytona gains the name "Sigma Dial" from collectors thanks to these tiny symbols. Further making this example special is its outstanding and honest condition. The lume at each hour marker has aged to an even, matching, cream-colored patina. While there are some signs of degradation, this is a Daytona you can wear without fear of damaging an absolutely perfect set of lume plots. On the dial surface, the matte black finish is very pronounced, showing little to no spots or flaws. The P301 pushers are of the correct style for an earlier screw-down pusher Daytona with no ridges as is seen on later examples of similar references. Of course, it is always great to have a matching Oyster folded link bracelet as well – this one, a ref. 7835, dates to the second quarter of 1972. The iconic steel bezel is in remarkable shape with most of the black paint still intact. These "Sigmas" are highly sought after by collectors and offer everything a manual-winding, screw-down pusher Daytona can, without the "Daytona" moniker on the dial. For the collector that has it all, these tend to be a bit more discreet and for the collector looking for their first vintage Daytona, a Sigma dial, especially a steel-bezeled 6265 is the least "basic" choice to go with. The Fine Print Maker: Rolex Model: Daytona Reference: 6265 (6262 inside caseback) Year: 1973 Case No: 3362532 Material: Stainless steel Dimensions: 36mm diameter; 13.5mm thickness Crystal: Plexiglass Lume: Yes, tritium Caliber: Rolex, manually-wound, caliber 727 Bracelet/Strap: Rolex, stainless steel, no. 7835 Oyster bracelet with no. 357 end links (Approximate max wrist size 7.5in / 190mm) Lug Width: 19mm Box/Papers: This watch is accompanied by its original presentation box, outer box, hangtag, and product literature including instruction manuals. What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: - Sigma dial - Period correct pushers - Steel bezel in great condition - Correct Rolex Oyster folded link bracelet Things To Know: - Case is lightly polished - Lume plots show varying degrees of wear This Daytona is in overall excellent, honest condition. The case is likely to have been lightly polished in the past but still remains strong and sharp with some scratches. The back of the lugs have some scratches and marks from the bracelet being removed. The numbers are clearly visible between both sets of lugs; between the lugs shows some wear. The inside caseback is stamped "6262" which is not uncommon as the casebacks were often interchangeably fitted across references at the time. The dial is in excellent condition with a light patina. The white sub dials have developed some patina and show some signs of wear. The lume on the hands and dial have developed a patina that is matching in color. Most of the lume plots on the dial show signs of degradation. The central hands and sub dial hands have developed some very light patina. The original bezel has remained strong with some scratches and light nicks on the edges. The watch has retained its original "P302" screw-down pushers. The bracelet with the folded links is in good condition with some scratches and marks. The clasp is marked "2 72," indicating it is from the second quarter of 1972, which aligns with the case number of the watch. The crown shows some light wear. The crystal has some scratches. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.
