Rolex Daytona Ref. 6265 ‘Floating Red’

Since 1905 Rolex has been making quality tool-watches and Rolex has become the benchmark in many ways for other brands. In 1959 the Daytona International Speedway was opened in the USA and this became the fastest racetrack in the world at the time. Keeping track of time with great precision was very important in this sport. Rolex being picked for this job in 1962 meant the birth of an icon in watchmaking history. Although Rolex had already built early chronographs (pre-Daytona’s), the collaboration between Rolex and the famous NASCAR racetrack has made the Daytona more popular than anyone would ever expect.

This Rolex Daytona, reference 6265, has a silver sunburst dial. The matte silver dial with a glossy coating is very clean with its tidy sorted subregisters, considering it is a chronograph. This panda-style chronograph dial is spotless and a lust to the eye. This generation Daytona got the nickname ‘Big Red’ because of its fat printed ‘Daytona’ lettering on the dial. To many people, this is the most beloved Daytona after the famous Paul Newman Daytona because the stainless steel bezel brings the Daytona perfectly together, better than the acrylic…

Rolex had a few dial changes over the years on the 6265. One of those different marks meant a bigger distance between the 6 o’clock register and the red Daytona printing. Today, with the existing Rolex collectors market this resulted in the nickname ‘Floating Big Red’. The floating big red is one of the most desirable executions of the 6265 Daytona, and if you ask us, one of the prettiest.

The 6265 did get a few notable differences though, the crown got bigger and the design returned to screw-down pushers to enhance waterproofness up to 100m. instead of the 50m. of its predecessor. Even with the bigger crown and pushers, this Daytona is a stainless steel piece of art in harmony. Measuring only 37mm, an average size for a chronograph, it’s quite a modest Rolex design.

Calling a Daytona modest is pretty dangerous since Paul Newman’s Daytona was sold for a whopping 17,75 million dollars… The collectability and overall vintage market have reached new heights over the past decade when it comes to Daytona’s. The originality is most important when seeking such a watch. This 6265 is all original with its 200 UpH bezel, screw-down pushers and corresponding oyster bracelet.

We are very pleased to offer you this piece in such great condition. Visit our store and let us tell you more during a nice cup of coffee. We are located in the Reestraat, Amsterdam.