Why This Watch Matters Those funky little circles make all the difference on this humble king of a Daytona. The Full Story 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 references were announced with the 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 "Cosmograph" we have here dates to 1978 and, we can assure you, it's not like all those other Daytonas. A humble king, our "Sigma Dial" is devoid of any Daytona branding at all, sticking to simply "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph." An interesting point of note here is the white printing on the dial which is special for "Sigma" examples near the end of the variant's production. Tucked below the hour marker at six o'clock are a couple of funky circles. These Sigma symbols indicate that the hour markers and hands of a watch were made of gold – in this case, white gold. It was an effort by the Swiss watch industry trade association, l’Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l'Or (APRIOR), to emphasize the value of Swiss watches using any gold material. This Sigma designation can be seen in other timepieces around the same time, such as on the dial of a Patek Philippe Nautilus. Our Daytona gains the name "Sigma Dial" from collectors thanks to these tiny symbols. Further making this example special is its excellent and honest condition. The lume on each hour marker is full and has aged to an even, matching, custard-colored patina. On the dial surface, the matte black finish is very pronounced, showing little to no spots or flaws. The P301 pushers are of the correct style for an earlier screw-down pusher Daytona with no ridges as is seen on later examples of similar references. Of course, it is always great to have an Oyster bracelet as well – this one dates to 1978. It also has retained its original black bezel which is paramount for this reference. These "Sigmas" are highly sought after by collectors and offer everything a manual-winding, screw-down pusher Daytona can without the "Daytona" name on the dial. These tend to be a bit more discreet and part of the "if you know, you know" club. The Fine Print Maker: RolexModel: DaytonaReference: 6263 / 6262 inside Year: 1978Case No: 5287142Material: Stainless steelDimensions: 37mm diameter; 14mm thicknessCrystal: PlexiglassLume: Yes, tritiumCaliber: Rolex, manually-wound, caliber 727Bracelet/Strap: Rolex, stainless steel, solid link Oyster ref. 78350 bracelet with 571 end links (Approximate max wrist size 7.75in / 196mm)Lug Width: 19mmBox/Papers: No What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: - "Sigma" dial- Correct pushers- Excellent lume patina - Solid link Oyster bracelet Things To Know: - Scratches on case- Some wear on the bezel This Daytona is in overall excellent, honest condition. The case is very strong and sharp with some scratches and appears to have been lightly polished. The back of the lugs have some scratches and marks from the bracelet being removed. The numbers are clearly visible between both sets of lugs; between the lugs shows some wear. The dial is in excellent condition with a very light patina. The sub-register at six has a mark towards the top. The lume on the hands and dial have developed a patina that is matching in color and the luminous material has remained full. The plots at most of the hour markers are full with little signs of degradation. The plots at eight, nine, and ten o'clock are show clear signs of degradation. The hands along the lume on them have developed a light patina. The original bezel has remained crisp with some scratches and light nicks on the edges. The bezel shows some wear at 70 and 75 as well as a crack near 85 or 90. The watch has retained its original "P301" screw-down pushers. The inside caseback is stamped with "6262," which is commonly seen on this reference. The bracelet currently on the watch is in good condition with some scratches and marks. The clasp is marked "VC" indicating it was made in 1978 and makes sense with the case serial number. The bottom of the clasp has a scratch and slight indentation. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.
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