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ROLEX Daytona

6263 SIGMA CHECK LIST

Below is a quick « check list » of what you should be looking at when considering a Daytona ref. 6263.

It is estimated that about 18.000 Daytona ref.6263 in steel were produced (and another 18.000 of ref. 6265 in steel). However there were different variant of dials for this reference: 1st generation, Sigma, Big Red sigma (transitional), Big Red, Small Red (replacement dial).

1st generation with no « Daytona » serial 2.08-3.1m (1969-72)

Sigma with no « Daytona » but at 6 « σT SWISS Tσ » large or small with serial 3.1-4.x (1972-76)

Sigma Big Red featuring both « σT SWISS Tσ » at 6 AND the red « Daytona » just above the lower subregister. Only observed in the 3.9-4.2m range and 5.2-5.5m range.

Big Red serial 4.x-Rxxxxxx (1976-88) with the red « Daytona » just above the lower subregister.

 

When buying a « Sigma » check:

•Dial: Perfect or spots? Edge all ok or a bit eaten? Lettering white/silve? Low/high? Sigma wide/tight?

•Dial silver type: sundial? Cream/grene?

•Lumes: under UV light glow green & vanish after a few seconds (tritium) or blue (luminova) or nothing (bad..). All perfect or some melted or disappeared ? (Often 3h or/and 9h due to watchmakers work over the years)

•Pushers: MK0 (no line, tight vertical cranges until serial 3.0m 1972) or MK1?

•Bezel: which generation? MK1 or 2

•Case: check distance hole vs edge. Width of the lugs? Satin finish? Any stamp on the lugs?

•Engraved ref/numbers: check/compare. Any sign of repolish near the lugs/edges?

•Bracelet: 78350 19/571?

•Clasp year code matching serial period?

•Backcase: ref number? CRS? XXX? •Movement number 727? Often early serial have 6262 or 6239 backcase.

•Original papers: smell them! Can be printed or punched. No certainty on when punched papers started on guarantee. Some small size « red » guarantee (credit card size) with rolex crown on the side were even punched from 1.4m serial (1966). Some late 1960s booklets were punched (saw 1.8m from 1968 but no absolutes here). Focus on the style of the guarantee which needs to match the period of the watch serial: « wave » border pattern from early 70s to about 1976 (4.5m serial or so) and « crown » border pattern style from around 1976 to 2002/03 (Y serial). Post 1976 most guarantee (not all) indicate at the right of the golden « Garantie » word the country code (center/left in a punched or a printed version). Booklets coming along the set also need to match (the language, the print year).

(This is not exhaustive – just a quick check list – in case you notice some inaccuracy please reach out. Rolex is a statistical gamer more than an exact science!)