Rolex Daytona 6263 “Big Red” Vintage
History:
The Rolex Daytona has reached legendary status in the watch collecting world 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 of the manually-wound Daytonas were 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. These two references carried the Oyster-cased chronograph through the 1970s and into the 1980s with the last examples seen in cases dating to around 1988.
The example we have here dates to 1985 and represents the end of an era for the Daytona – in 1988, the manually-wound Daytona left the Rolex catalog for good. With its distinctive red text above the six o’clock hour register, “Big Red” Daytonas have found their way into some of the most prestigious collections in the world. As the watch world saw Paul Newman Daytonas explode in popularity, the demand for these “Big Red” Daytonas started to pick up. The 6263’s distinguishing characteristics are the screw-down pushers, black bezel, and, in this case, the red “Daytona” text on the dial. These features give the watch an instantly recognizable look.
Further making this example special is its excellent and honest condition. The lume on each hour marker is very full and has aged to an even, matching, custard-colored patina. On the dial surface, the silver sunburst finish is very pronounced, showing little to no spots or flaws. The caseback even has the original Rolex green sticker intact. The example we have here is downright gorgeous; the way the silver dial shimmers in the light against the black registers can make someone stare at this watch all day. The combination of the black bezel and black registers against the silver dial provides the watch excellent contrast, and the red “Daytona” text adds the perfect amount of color to really make the whole package pop.
The watch comes with an Oyster bracelet, and we’ve also paired it with our Sedona Strap in Sandstone. This color really brings out the champagne notes in the silver dial and accentuates the beautiful custard-colored lume.
