What is the Rolex Daytona 6263?

It’s no secret that Rolex makes some of the most iconic watches that you’re ever likely to run across. After all, they’ve been in the watch making business for several years and they have easily cemented themselves as one of the best, if not the best, watchmakers to exist. They know how to create a timepiece that’s both functional and desirable, there’s no doubt about that. However, they also know how to do something else that’s absolutely necessary for success. They’re very good at marketing their products to individuals who have a very particular interest. Take the Rolex Daytona 6263 for example. This is a watch that is going to get the attention of anyone who loves Daytona and by extension, racing, simply because of its name. As such, the company is able to market the watch to more people than just those who like to collect expensive watches. Almost instantly, it becomes a collectible for race fans alike. If you’ve got someone in your family that fits this description, you might be more interested to know exactly what this watch is all about. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place.

What Is the Rolex Daytona 6263?

There is no question whatsoever that this watch is special. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the most sought-after Rolex watches of all time. Some people would even argue that it’s among the most sought-after watches from any watchmaker of all time. What is it that makes this particular rendition so special? There are actually a number of reasons. First and foremost, this is one of the iconic classic watches from Rolex. It was only produced from 1969 until 1988, making it one of the most popular and highly sought-after vintage watches in existence. Furthermore, it’s one of the most popular watches for collectors in Italy, the very same individuals that made Rolex watches collectible in the first place. Of course, it would be a mistake to leave out the fact that it has been made popular by racing fans for decades. The fact that actor and race car driver Paul Newman wore one himself certainly didn’t hurt matters, either. When it’s all said and done, it’s easy to understand why there are so many people that want to get their hands on one of these watches. It also should go without saying that when a watch is produced over the course of so many years, there are going to be quite a few variations in design. Those variations may not be terribly obvious, but they certainly can be. The truth is, there were approximately 19 different variations in design between the introduction of this particular watch in 1969 until Rolex ceased production in 1988.

A Record-Setting Collectible Watch

Most people don’t expect to get a Rolex for next to nothing, especially when they’re buying a vintage collectible. It should go without saying that in order to get one, you’ll have to spend a rather significant amount of money. That said, it’s sometimes shocking just how much some of these watches have previously fetched at public auctions. Although it wasn’t a reference 6263, it was still a Rolex Daytona that has set the record for the most expensive Rolex watch ever sold. In this particular case, it was one that was owned and frequently worn by the aforementioned actor and race car driver, Paul Newman. How much did it cost when it sold? You might want to sit down before you read this, because it sold for a record-breaking $17.8 million. In addition, Newman also had one of the more basic Rolex Daytona watches, a reference 6263. That watch was about as basic as they come as far as the Rolex Daytona watches are concerned and it still sold for more than $5 million. Does that mean that all Rolex Daytona watches are going to sell for this much money? No, of course not. To an extent, these two watches sold for so much not only because they’re vintage Rolex watches, but also because of the fact that they were worn by a popular celebrity in both the racing world and as far as the more general public is concerned. That said, you shouldn’t expect to get a Rolex Daytona, reference 6263 or otherwise, without shelling out some serious cash.

The Devil is in the Details

Before you get carried away, there are some things that make the Rolex Daytona 6263 different from all other Rolex Daytona reference numbers out there. For starters, it features a manual winding Valjoux movement. In fact, it’s the last Rolex Daytona to feature this particular movement. There are other things about this particular reference number that make it stand out as well, not the least of which includes screw-down pushers that are designed specifically to increase its water resistance. There was a practical reason for including these because it allowed the watch to be water-resistant all the way to 50 meters, but it also made the watch look far more aggressive than any other Rolex Daytona available at any point in time. As it turns out, it’s something that collectors absolutely fell in love with. That makes the 6263 the most sought-after Rolex Daytona of all of their vintage watches.

What should you do if you want to own one of these for yourself? First and foremost, make sure that you’re dealing with someone that’s reputable so you know that you’re getting an authentic Rolex Daytona 6263. There are plenty of individuals out there that will try to sell you something of lesser quality and pass it off as a Rolex. Aside from that, it might be a good idea to start a savings account if you don’t already have one. As previously mentioned, you won’t find one of these watches for pennies on the dollar. The amount you actually end up spending will of course vary a great deal, depending on where you purchase it and the condition of that individual watch. Nevertheless, anything that’s worth owning is going to be something that you will have to spend some money in order to get.