For a long time, the ultimate goal for many vintage watch collectors has been the 'vintage Daytona.' Legendary, elusive, and with prices that can literally make your jaw drop, just the mere mention of the term "vintage Daytona" is enough to capture the attention of even the most hardcore and seasoned collectors. Part of its enduring allure comes from its iconic branding, and partly from its status as the crowning achievement of Rolex. Even today, the modern Rolex Daytona remains one of the most challenging timepieces to obtain through an authorised dealer, with waitlists often extending for years and priority given exclusively to clients with a well-established history of substantial purchases.
In the realm of vintage Daytonas, the story is the same, though arguably even more complex and, for many, more rewarding. With a vast array of references ranging from the 6239 to the 6263, and an even broader spectrum of dial configurations—from the iconic Paul Newman variants to more obscure details such as underlines, double “Swiss” signatures, and Mk 1 ‘Millerighe’ pushers—vintage Daytonas have long been the subject of intense scrutiny. They are studied meticulously, critiqued rigorously, and revered passionately within the collecting community.
While there are plenty of fine details that collectors should pay attention to, the main appeal of the Rolex Daytona ultimately lies in its undeniably iconic aesthetic. With a 37.5mm x 13.5mm case and its signature three sub-dial design, it is a watch that invites admiration more naturally than analysis. A collector friend of mine once remarked, "Once you go Daytona, you never go back", specifically referring to the vintage models, of course. Frankly speaking, it's really not that difficult to see why; on the wrist, the Daytona offers a compelling blend of elegance and sporty charisma. While many chronographs from the same era may share similar design cues, Rolex consistently excels at perfecting the subtleties. As Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously said, “God is in the details”—a philosophy that seems almost tailor-made for the Daytona.
This particular example offered here today is one of the icons, even within the vintage Daytona spectrum. When the average collector thinks of a vintage Daytona, there’s a good chance that it’s going to be a 6263. This reference, along with the 6265, succeeded the 6262 and the 6264, and is most recognisable as the first Oyster waterproof Cosmograph Daytona. Visually, it was the first time Rolex used screw-down pushers on a watch, and it acts as the biggest visual difference between its predecessors. This 6263 also comes with a black acrylic bezel, as opposed to the 6265s that came with a stainless steel or gold bezel.
While Daytona 6263s do pop up for sale from time to time, it is hard to find examples in great overall condition. The one offered here today is certainly one of those, featuring a classic ‘reverse panda’ Sigma ‘ROC’ dial—an early dial variant bearing only the text “Rolex, Oyster, Cosmograph”, notably omitting the red “Daytona” inscription above the lower sub-dial. As with all Daytonas, the matte black dial is complemented by a trio of contrasting sub-dials: a 30-minute counter at 3:00, a 12-hour register at 6:00, and a running seconds at 9:00. Just beneath the 6:00 sub-dial, you’ll also find the “σ T SWISS T σ” signature, with the flanking Greek Sigma symbols indicating the use of solid gold in the hour markers and hands. This subtle little detail reflects an initiative by the Swiss watch industry trade association, l’Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l’Or (APRIOR), to promote the value and prestige of Swiss watches containing gold components. At the time, this designation served to enhance the perceived intrinsic value of traditional mechanical watches.
Looking closer, the dial on this example is complemented by evenly aged lume plots along the periphery and on the hands, lending a warm, vintage character. The stainless steel case remains sharp and is fitted with Mk 2 screw-down pushers and a Mk 3 bezel, the latter likely replaced at some point during the watch’s life. The Mk 2 pushers are distinguished by their more pronounced teeth-like ridges and thicker grooves. As for the Mk 3 acrylic bezel insert, it is identifiable by several features: a thinner overall font for the numerals, a distinctive ‘5’ with a longer neck, and increased spacing between the bezel edge and the numerals or dots. Additionally, this 6263 is also fitted with a Triplock crown, recognisable by the three dots located beneath the Rolex coronet, which is a crown configuration found on later-production 6263 and 6265 models.
Details aside, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 is an absolute joy to wear on the wrist. With near-perfect proportions, it’s a serious watch to own and truly one of the pinnacle "end-game" pieces when it comes to vintage Rolex collecting.
