Rolex Daytona 6240

The Rolex 6240 is an important reference in the history of the Daytona line, as it was the first true ‘Oyster’ Daytona. Rolex’s Oyster case was first unveiled in 1926 and was one of Rolex’s most important innovations. It received its name because it protected the watch from the elements just as an oyster is protected by its shell. These original oyster cases had screw down crowns and case backs to protect the watch from water and dirt.

All Daytonas, including the 6239, have the same features as these original Oysters. Despite this, not all references are referred to as ‘Oyster’. This is because the Daytona is a chronograph, and chronographs also have pushers. If these are not screw down the watch cannot be considered water resistant.

The 6240 was the very first Daytona with screw down pushers. Its predecessor the 6239, along with the 6241, 6262, and 6264 all had pump pushers.

Most collectors favour screw down pushers to pump pushers, largely because they give the watch a sportier appearance. This is the reverse of what most consumers thought at the time the 6240 was released. At that time, many complained that the screw down pushers caught on their shirt cuffs.

The reference was not produced in large numbers. It is considered as a kind of prototype version of the 6263, which was released four years after the 6240. As well as sharing the screw down pushers, the 6263 and 6240 also both have a metallic bezel with a black acrylic insert.

The tachymeter scale on the bezel is also the same, running from 50 to 200 units per hour. The main difference between the references is only apparent once the watch is opened up. At various times the 6240 came with either a Valjoux 72B, 722 or 722-1 movement, but never the more advanced 727 movement which was found on the 6263.

The 6240 is one of the rarest of all Daytona references. It is thought that only 1700 examples were produced, all of which have stainless steel cases. However, it is not the rarest first series Daytona. The 6262 is certainly rarer, and perhaps also the 6264. What can be said with certainty is that it is the rarest of all of the screw-down pusher Daytonas.

Like all Daytona references up to the 6263, the 6240 came with an Oyster Twinlock 600 crown when it was first released. This was later updated to the Twinlock 700, found on 6240s with later production dates.

The crystal on the watch is a type of domed plexiglass that is termed ‘Tropic 21’. This was the crystal used on all Daytonas until 1980. After this, there was a switch to standard plexiglass on some models.