Mystery Rolex.

[DFWUser]

HAIL ROLEX GURUS!!

Let me introduce myself.... well, not really; I don't normally give my name online... but let me sum up:

My wife and I recently inherited several items from her deceased grandfather, one of which is the Rolex pictured in the attached images. Until yesterday I knew nothing about Rolex (except the general vague notions shared by most of the public). However, I now have this extraordinary watch in my hands, and I am trying to identify it... a task which has proven much more difficult than I imagined it would, since It does not appear to conform to any of the most commonly referenced models/pictures I have seen online.

Here is what I THINK I know about it so far:

1) It is a real Rolex (not a fake) (I could be wrong about this of course)

2) The band is 14k gold and the case is 18k gold. (this was told to me by the local ye-olde watch-fixit-shoppe here in town... the owner of which seemed quite keen to take the watch off my hands )

2) It appears to look generally like a 60's model Daytona, but has some distinct differences... the general spacing of the dials, the lack of the word "Daytona" on the face, the apparently rare spelling of "Oyster Chronographe" (with an E on the end) and "Anti-Magnetique" (With a Que) on its face, more numbers on its sub-dials than a regular Daytona, no BOLD numbers on the main dial, and slight differences in the hands, crown symbol and face markers.

3) Because of the differences noted above, I believe this watch to be a late 50's to early 60's "pre-Daytona" model.... although I have not been able to find a single watch online which conforms perfectly to this one.

4) The closest match for this watch that I HAVE been able to find is this one: http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/2010/2/...ock-legen.html Although you will note some differences: That watch appears to have a printed crown emblem, not gold like mine, and it has intersecting underlayed printing (The outer numbers intersect with, and can be seen through, the smaller dials) on the face, whereas this one does not.

So.... Have at it. Anyone know PRECISELY what I have here?

Pictures Below:





Edited: Added pics after the fact

[sleddog]

Some pictures would help!

[Route 66]

Welcome!

We need to see some pics...

[kyle L]

Sounds interesting, can't see the pictures though.

[DFWUser]

Sorry... I posted a second one with pics, cus they didnt take here... Ill post them here... one sec.

[DFWUser]

Removed

[Sweramic]

WOW, that is a nice Rolex! Don't know if it's real though! Sorry

[sleddog]

It appears to be a 6234.
Probably made in the late 50's. A very cool looking watch!

[kyle L]

Originally Posted by DFWUser

Interesting watch! No expert, but I haven't seen any similar ones spelled Chronographe or with stick hands.

[Sweramic]

You should go and ask the same questions here:

http://vintagerolexforum.com/

They are generally better with vintage pieces like this and will surely help you!

[Sweramic]

Originally Posted by kyle L

Interesting watch! No expert, but I haven't seen any similar ones spelled Chronographe or with stick hands.

Good eyes Kyle! Never seen "Chronographe" neither

[kyle L]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...hams+on+june+9

[kyle L]

Closest I could find: Pic borrowed off of VRF

[DFWUser]

Originally Posted by sleddog1000

It appears to be a 6234.
Probably made in the late 50's. A very cool looking watch!

yes, I just googled Rolex 6234, and they look very similar, but I have not seen any with the hands that this one has, and most of them have the overlayed numbers on the face.... and they all seem to say Chronograph instead of Chronographe, and Anti-Magnetic instead of Anti-Magnetique.

Interestingly enough though, the Eric Clapton Rolex I linked to in my original post has the E on Chronographe and the Que on Anti-Magnetique... and the word Anti-Magnetique was spelled in a straight line like mine, not curved around the top portion of the dial like you see in the 6234 picture below (although it did have the overlays, unlike the one I have).

Here is a side by side comparison:

Rolex 6234:


The Rolex(?) I have:



Eric Claptons watch:

[sleddog]

There are the odd ones that do have this type of hand set..Mostly older variations if that makes sense?
But like you I have not found one with the French spelling.....Which makes it even rarer should it be genuine!!
As for the dial,there are quite a few variations as well but all still in the 6234 line..

[Sweramic]

You are correct, the Eric Clapton Rolex does have it!

[Sweramic]

Visit www.vintagerolexforum.com and you will get good answers!

[kyle L]

Originally Posted by Dreambaby

Visit www.vintagerolexforum.com and you will get good answers!

+1

[Earl]

My 2 cents is that it's real and rare ( not so much one of a kind but, limited distribution) ..... but, only my 2 cents ;-)

[Sweramic]

I'm so looking forward to hear the vintagerolexforum's "verdict"!

[DFWUser]

Ok ok.... you convinced me. I will post it at the vintage forums and link to that discussion here (if that is permitted).

Thank you for your input so far!

[Michael M.]

Looks like a ref.6234 to me, the hands also look like replacements. If it's what I think it is, it could be worth up to 50k!!!!!

[Sweramic]

Originally Posted by DFWUser

Ok ok.... you convinced me. I will post it at the vintage forums and link to that discussion here (if that is permitted).

Thank you for your input so far!

Saw your post! Good luck with the watch and I hope it's the real thing

Thanks for sharing this with us nonetheless!

[DFWUser]

Originally Posted by Michael M.

Looks like a ref.6234 to me, the hands also look like replacements. If it's what I think it is, it could be worth up to 50k!!!!!

yes, well... I am not going to get too excited about the value of it (although I DO wish to know what that value is for insurance purposes). I am not wealthy.. in fact I fall squarely into the 'poor' category, but this watch will likely not be sold no matter how much it is worth. It will stay in the family.

Here is the link to the Vintage forum thread:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759.../Mystery+Rolex

[andypandy]

I stumbled across a very similar watch to yours , it's on Auktionen Dr. Crott , it may be that yours could be 6238 ( limited edition of 3600 ). It has the same hands but no French
legend. The bracelet is a 7205. Estimated price ? $ 21000 to $ 29000. I'm no expert , but have a wee look anyway. The site is German but has a language choice at the foot of the homepage. I wish you the best of luck , here's hoping you've got something rare.

[DFWUser]

Originally Posted by andypandy

I stumbled across a very similar watch to yours , it's on Auktionen Dr. Crott , it may be that yours could be 6238 ( limited edition of 3600 ). It has the same hands but no French
legend. The bracelet is a 7205. Estimated price ? $ 21000 to $ 29000. I'm no expert , but have a wee look anyway. The site is German but has a language choice at the foot of the homepage. I wish you the best of luck , here's hoping you've got something rare.

Yes, It is very, very close... although I havent seen any 6238s with "Anti-Magnetique" on the face, or with an E on Chronographe... or with the word "Oyster". Here is another side by side... the watch I have does have the fine concentric circle texturing within the dials that you see here on the 6238 (but there is no smooth, sunken effect,its all textured), you just cant see it in the picture.

The 6238 DOES appear to have the same hands as the one I have... but again, mine has more numbers on the small dials, the numbering around the edge of the face is different, the crown emblem is a completely different (more crude) style on the one I have, and the raised markers on the face are also different.

Come to think of it... perhaps they are not so similar after all, lol

[DFWUser]

In the past couple of hours since I first posted this, I have recieved several emails from people on these boards offering to buy this watch.

I have discussed it with my wife, and we have decided that if it turns out to be worth as much as we think it might be, then giving it to any one of the 4 kids would be a recipe for disaster. So... we will likely sell it in the future, and use the money to buy 4 brand new rolexes, engraved with the memory of her grandfather... so that each of the kids gets the same thing, and there is nothing to fight over.

However, that will be a while yet. For now, and for the forseeable future, the answer to the question "Do you want to sell it?" Is and will remain:

Perhaps in a few years. Not right now, and certainly not before I know exactly what it is and what it is worth.

[kyle L]

Originally Posted by DFWUser

In the past couple of hours since I first posted this, I have recieved several emails from people on these boards offering to buy this watch.

I have discussed it with my wife, and we have decided that if it turns out to be worth as much as we think it might be, then giving it to any one of the 4 kids would be a recipe for disaster. So... we will likely sell it in the future, and use the money to buy 4 brand new rolexes, engraved with the memory of her grandfather... so that each of the kids gets the same thing, and there is nothing to fight over.

However, that will be a while yet. For now, and for the forseeable future, the answer to the question "Do you want to sell it?" Is and will remain:

Perhaps in a few years. Not right now, and certainly not before I know exactly what it is and what it is worth.

I think that would be wise, you should do some more research and when you are comfortable and know enough about it you can sell it. It might even go up in value in the future!

[Dr.Brian]

.

[Dr.Brian]

I don't like the look/position of your applied crown.
I hope it's real though, and if so, you may do better at auction than on these fora. There are many "rare and important watch" auctions each year. Posting a photo of the movement would help.
Good luck.