Rolex 6238- A Study of Dial Variations

[descartes]

I am a huge fan of the Rolex 6238, the so-called "Pre-Daytona."  For me, it is one of the most beautiful Rolex references, which evokes the coolness of a gentleman/sportsman of the mid-1960s.  

I've noticed 3 dial variations in the tachymeter scale-- One which measures the units by "Mile", one which uses the "Base" measurement and one which has no reference term at all. Mine uses the "Mile" measurement, which I believe to be the least common, so I've always wondered about this.  One article I read (which I had to translate from the Italian) suggested that the "Mile" dial variant of the 6238 dials was produced later as a service dial. However, the statement was merely conclusory with no empirical study or evidence. So, I felt a bit of scholarship was appropriate here to confirm the reality and I have concluded that the "Mile" dial variation was used only for a very brief period of time, and quite early in the production run.

I reached this conclusion by looking at as many examples as I could find, primarily sourced from the auction results compiled by Collector Square (Christies, Sotheby's, Antiquorum, Artcurial etc.). The auction results I reviewed dated from current era all the way back to 2008.  Interestingly, every single 6238 with the "Mile" dial variation bore a serial number in the range of 1,00 (and most of those began 1,007), with only one exception (which was slightly earlier-- 976,239). All of the examples I found were silvered dialed, stainless steel watches, except for one which was black dial/stainless steel and it too was in the 1,00 serial range.  

Specifically, I located the following examples all bearing the "Mile" dial iteration:

1,000,278  
1,007,238
1,000,250 (black dial)
1,007,920
1,007,749
1,007,798
976,239

The example I own which bears the "Mile" dial variation likewise falls in the 1,00 range.

I located only one example which was in the 1,007 range (sold by Sotheby's in 5/2016) which did NOT have the "Mile" variation, but a "Base" dial variation instead.  (Perhaps this was a transitional period when the dial variation changes, or perhaps it is a later added service dial using the more widely seen "Base" variation.  

I hope the above adds a bit to the scholarship regarding the 6238, which has not (to my knowledge) seen much previous scholarship regarding dial variations (like we see concerning many vintage Rolex references (e.g. Daytona, Submariner, Explorer II, etc.).  I think this beautiful reference deserves a bit more attention, but perhaps doesn't get it because it is fairly uncommon (reportedly only about 1,000 6238 Pre-Daytona produced) so perhaps, for that reason, it is not a reference commonly studied or collected.

If anyone has a 6238 in their possession I would be interested to know about it.

Here are some photos of the watch and a close up on the dial showing the "Mile" variation.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[watch-guy.com]

here is mine no1077792

Empty - no mile or base

[Haywood_Milton]

Absolutely wonderful watches and thankyou for posting. Very rare as noted above......and conspicuously missing from my signature below!

[DarknerImperator]

Really nice info!!!

Than kyou for posting !

[twnturbo]

These are very nice looks like there's a nice one I saw on MM ig today or is this different type I'm still new here 😊 https://instagram.com/p/BZWlQXelKTk/

[descartes]

That's an earlier 6234.

Actually, I got mine from Michael.

[Bladeshot]

I purchased a 6238 today. Original dial and hands. Serviced by Rolex in 2019. It’s a 964xxx serial with the Silver Mile dial, which falls in line with early production you suggested above. It was a local owner who serviced it and then sold it afterward. I’ll post pics when I take good ones next week.

I missed out on a couple of 6263s. When I saw this one I jumped on it. Dial has some patina under the loupe but looks great!

[Watch+cars]

Also recently purchased a 6238 silver dial with MILE - it’s a low 1,000,xxx serial number.

I read - will try to find source - that MILE dials were supplied to the military services and similar. This would tie in with my own watch that was purchased new in 1964 by a member of the British Royal Air Force on a British military base in Libya.