CHARACTERISTICS

• Produced from 1971 until the end of 1987.

• Rolex presents the 2 new chronographs reference 6263 and 6265, the improvement of ref. 6262 and 6264 with the addition of crew-down push buttons and a larger winding crown, same one used as for ref. 6240.

• Produced in stainless steel, 14kt and 18kt gold.

• The reference 6263 and 6265 are presented together as they are the same watch with just a difference, the bezel.

• Estimates calculate that over a 20-year period, the total production of this model reached 24,000 pieces in steel and ten times less pieces in gold, to be exact, 2000 pieces.

• Realised in both standard two-tone and Paul Newman dials.

• Has a metal and plastic bezel with a white printed tachymeter.

• The reference 6263 bears an OYSTER case.

• Screw-down push buttons. 3 different series of screw-down push buttons were made:

  • 1st generation, or also called "Millerighe" for the collectors, are bore in the early steel models. They were a prototype of screw-down pushers.

  • 2nd generation are introduced in the early 1970s. The screw-down push buttons 24-P301 (jointly with the OYSTER TRIPLOCK 701 crown) to declare waterproofing of the case to 50 meters, or 165 feet.

  • 3rd generation are introduced in the second half of the 1970's substituting the previous screw-down pushers for the wider ridge model 24-P302 (jointly with the new TRIPLOCK 702 crown).

• This reference bears a 7 mm OYSTER TWINLOCK 700 series winding crown in ridged metal with the Rolex logo during earlier production and a 7 mm OYSTER TRIPLOCK 700 series winding crown in ridged metal with the 3 dots under the Rolex logo from 1972 on. During the production of this reference 3 different crowns were made:

  • In 1972, there is a change in the crown, the OYSTER TWINLOCK 700 series is removed, and the OYSTER TRIPLOCK 701 is introduced to replace it.

  • Aprox. in 1977, the OYSTER TRIPLOCK 701 is replaced for the OYSTER TRIPLOCK 702.

  • Aprox. in 1982 the OYSTER TRIPLOCK 702 is replaced for the OYSTER TRIPLOCK 703.

• The declared waterproof is then 50 meters, or 165 feet, aprox. until the beginning 1980's, and 100 meters, 330 feet, from the beginning of the 1980's until the end of production.

• Carries a domed plexiglass crystal, model TROPIC 21 until aprox. 1980, and standard plexiglass crystal from aprox. 1980 until the end of production.

In the first picture we can observe an example of 6263 case-back with the Rolex patent stamp. In the second picture we can observe that the Rolex patent stamp disappears, and in the third picture we can observe a post-production case-back with no reference number stamped, in this case with the PATENTED stamp.

• Has a metal, polished case back with an oval-shaped profile.

• Internal circular satin finish with the Rolex name stamp, Rolex patent, material of the case-back, and reference number.

• Toward the end of the 1970's the official Rolex patent stamp is cancelled by Rolex and completely eliminated from the start of the 1980's. Case-backs without PATENTED and reference number stamp are post-production.

• Upper lug (12 o'clock) ---> REGISTERED DESIGN

                                                                   6263

At the beginning of the 1980's Rolex substitutes the REGISTER DESIGN inscription with ORIGINAL ROLEX DESIGN designation, positioned above the reference number between the upper lugs, due to the expiration of the patent.

• Lower lug (6 o'clock)---> STAINLESS STEEL (when the case is in steel)

                                                      Serial number 

• The case design can be divided into 3 distinct groups or series:

  • The first series was produced in very limited numbers, around 900 pieces for the reference 6263 and 1300 pieces for the reference 6265. A distinctic characteristic is a flatter case compared to later series.

  • The second series is defined by its thicker case and on their cases they bear the serial numbers between 3.000.000 and around 4.300.000. This series of case also bear the second generation screw-down pushers, 24-P301.

  • The third or final series, has the most modern-style case.

It is not deemed a problem when the case supplier C.R.S. (C. R. Spillman & Cie) clears the first orders for the references 6263 using the leftover cases from the previous references 6262 & 6264. Not strange to see something like this happen since Rolex itself mounts leftover case-backs from other references. 

This is the origin of the first series of reference 6263 that is now highly sought-after and appreciated by the Rolex collectors. These cases are the only ones that can accommodate the prestigious Paul Newman dial. If such a dial is found on a second or third series, it means it was mounted on the watch at a later time, meaning they are leftover dials from previous references that have been recovered and adapted. Therefore, the first series of the references 6263 and 6265 are the last Daytonas that have a legitimate Paul Newman dial.

In the early 1980's, following the current trends, the Daytona case becomes larger with a restyling that updates its look.

bracelet

Reference 6263 models are equipped with bracelets with bended links ref. 7835 and 19mm curved fittings nº 271 and nº 371, used until aprox. 1974.

After that, those bracelets were replaced for bracelets with solid links ref. 78350 and 19mm curved fittings nº 571.

Bezel

In metal with black plastic insert and tachymeter printed in white. Speed measured up to 200 units per hour.

Speed scale :

               From 50 to 100, intervals of 1 unit.

               From 100 to 140, intervals of 5 units.

               From 140 to 160, intervals of 10 units.

               From 160 to 200, intervals of 20 units

movement

• Ref. 6263 bears a movement VALJOUX caliber 727:

  • An evolution of caliber 722-1 and also based on caliber 72A, fitted the Daytona chronographs from 1969 to about 1987.

dial

• Produced in both standard two-tone and Paul Newman dials.

• At the beginning of 1991 Rolex modifies the dial design. On new post-production, Rolex changes the graphic design of the DAYTONA signature, the numbers and the indexes of the registers with a more squared "Sans Serif". In addition, on black dials, the registers are in silver. The DAYTONA signature is smaller and narrower to the hour register, plus it is always printed in red.

• Rolex Oyster Cosmograph signature:

  • In early productions it is located further from the crown.

  • In the latest models it is located higher, towards the crown.

• DAYTONA signature:

  • In early production it is closer to the hour register.

  • In latest production it is further away from the hour register.

• T Swiss T signature:

  • Only on early models, there is the reappearance of the sigma symbol next to the Ts of T Swiss T, the "Goute a Prior" which meant that the dial was made with precious metal (almost always in white gold).

• The dials have the presence of the OYSTER signature guaranteeing their waterproof. Models with the Paul Newman dial are produced only in early years.

• The DAYTONA signature is introduced only in stainless steel from the second half of the 1970s and always printed in red and positioned along the curve of the hour totalizer.