ROLEX 6234 CHRONOGRAPH STEEL

This vintage Rolex Oyster chronograph was produced in 1960 and is one of the so-called “pre-Daytonas”. This early Rolex chronograph makes use of the Oyster case with its three piece construction (bezel, case body and screw down case back).

The original stainless steel case is in mint plus condition and has dimensions of 35mm diameter by 14.5mm thick. Crystal is domed acrylic. The screw down crown and pump style chronograph pushers are all working normally and the chronograph resets to the zero position with crisp action.

Serial number 530XXX dates production to 1960.

Original movement is the manual winding Rolex Caliber 72 with 17 jewels and column wheel construction. The movement is running strong and is in immaculate condition.

Original dial is silver with applied hour markers and Rolex coronet, minutes and seconds chapter around the dial’s periphery with 1/5th second interstitial hash markers, and sunken subdials. The text on the dial reads: “ROLEX” “OYSTER CHRONOGRAPH” and “ANTI-MAGNETIC”.

The subdial at 3 o’clock is the chronograph 30 minutes totalizer, which interestingly has prominent hash marks at the first three 3 minute positions, because in that era long distance phone calls were billed in 3 minute periods, so the wearer of the watch could keep track of their phone calls. The subdial at 6 o’clock is the chronograph 12 hour totalizer, and the subdial at 9 o’clock is for constant seconds. In addition to being sunken, the subdials all have concentric guilloche engraving. Finally, the central chronograph seconds hand, as well as the subdial hands, are blued. The dial and hands are original to the watch.

Strap is a gently worn Rolex strap with vintage Rolex tang buckle.