Rolex

Subexplorer
[Moderator - WristScan]
33284

• Show profile
• Show other posts

Never say never again!

An unexpected purchase (or never say never again!)

Usually, my watch purchases respond to a previously thought planning, and my writings in a little pocketbook which I keep as my "wishbook", including on its pages some information I could gather about the pieces in my collection.

My wish list is born after much reading, passion and thought, and daydreaming about the timepieces I expect to buy some day.

So if any day I cross my path with one of those pieces included in the list, if the watch is in a good general condition, and the price is within my reach, I plunge in the usual dealing with the person offering it to me.

But this time, my purchase was unexpected. I never considered to buy an example of the timepiece I am showing below: a classic Daytona vintage.

This is not to say that I don´t liked the watch. As a matter of fact, I own a modern made rendition of this famous Rolex cronograph.

But truth is that, though I always thought it is a very nice and emblematic model, I also felt that the market prices they usually reach are beyond the amounts I usually invest, and that there are many other brands and models, which I wished to own before ever considering owning one of these.

By the other hand, I had also thought that these watches are overpriced, in contrast with many other very fine watches with an almost identical movement which fetch much lower prices being the only difference the name brand and model.

Now, unexpected things happen to collectors, and some opportunities just can´t be left to pass from our life. So lesson learned is: never say never again!

Some weeks ago, a friend called me to tell me that a friend of him, was selling an old Rolex which he thought could interest me.

As my friend is not a watch nut like me, he said he didn´t know the model, except that it was an old Rolex watch which his friend owned since the 1960´s, when he got it brand new.

Somewhat intrigued, I arranged a meeting with my friend and his friend for a few days later.

Day of meeting came, and after introduction the owner of the watch produced a little green velvet pouch from his coat, and showed it to me its content, while beginning to tell me its story.

"In the late 1960' s -he said-  my Dad offered me and my brother to buy present: a watch we could choose as per our own tastes.  My brother  selected an Omega  Speedmaster watch, and I preferred this  Daytona. Both watches had a fairly similar price tags in those years, and Dad complimented us buying the timepieces we each choose."

"A few years ago, my brother sold his old Omega, and now I have decided I have some more important things I wish or need to own than my old watch, and decided to sell mine too. "

"I have been doing some research about the value of my Rolex, and discovered I made a more intelligent election than my brother!" he added with a blink of his eye.

"My old Rolex chrono  was worn almost daily, and shows the signs of an honest use with some little marks, which do not detract from its overall appeal. I still love it, but I guess it deserves a new good  owner now."

I examined the watch, and could see that as its owner said, the timepiece was in very good overall condition, in spite of some scratches and little scars on the case, and the plexi needing  a deep good polishing (which I did myself with some Polywatch and some elbow grease afterwards).  

So we took the watch to my friendly watchmaker, which inspected the movement and gave the approval, telling me that a little cleaning and and oiling was all needed, and that he did for me later, after my purchase.

I was really excited with this little old watch, and much more during the dealing of the more than reasonable sale price with the owner. He accepted a trade of a nice old Date Just I owned,  as part of the price, and after a little more chatting and a couple of coffee cups, the deal was closed.

Did I say I would never buy a Daytona?

Yes, I did. And now I know I was completely wrong to say so. Never will say never again!

I  like this watch so much, because I feel it epitomizes the escence of this model Daytona: it is a 6269 model, which -as we know- was the first reference for the Cosmograph Daytona model.

It is small sized as per today standards, and I like it when I see on my wrist.  The small size adds to the vintage look, and to the charme of this piece.

Its silver-white dial with sunburst effect, and the three black sub dials got the inscription Rolex Cosmograph, and "Daytona" at "12", as per early watches, before the model name was included above the hour accumulator Subdial at "6" in later production. This is a very clean uncluttered dial, so sporty, so elegant I feel!

Chrono pushers are the common found in early models, before the screw type appeared.  The word "Oyster" didn´t appear in those primitive versions of this chronograph.

This example was made in 1967, and is equipped with a 722 movement inside which keeps time with incredible accuracy, considering its 45 years age. Based on the Valjoux 72 ebauche, this movement has shown its noble characteristics. This is something which has amazed me about  old Rolex timepieces: well kept and mantained, they keep incredible accuracy in spite of their age!

The watch came with a correct riveted Oyster bracelet, marked 2/68, but the endlinks are not correct, as they are "57" and they should be "71", so there is an ugly gap near the case. I m presently in search of the correct end pieces.

The first time I viewed this watch, I inmediately fell  in love with it. Meeting the original owner, and hearing its story, added to my interest on this old watch. I just couldn´t let it go, in spite of never being included in my wish list, or my audacious declaration that I never would purchase one for myself.

I wish you´ll like it, as much as I do. Thank you for your kind attention and have a nice week end friends!

Very cordially, Abel.