This is a very tentative sales post for my Rolex 6239 Daytona from 1969. I bought this watch from Dick Rabel, a trusted member of the TZ-UK forum and a colleague of mine in the music industry. Sadly, Dick passed away last year.

I think that the watch is a particularly fine example. But, as with all things vintage, beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. That said, I am completely confident that the watch is 100% original in all aspects. It comes with some service history from Rolex in New York (1992), and a later photocopied service receipt for a jewellers in New York in the early 2000s. It has the original bracelet, a service box, polishing cloth, Rolex service warranty and paperwork, a factory service booklet and an original advertising brochure.

The 2.3m serial number indicates 1969 manufacture. It is an example of the ‘reverse panda’. The dial is in super condition. The silver print is in super condition and the lume plots are all present (often some or all of these can be missing on this model reference and vintage).

The hands are in excellent condition. I would also say that the case, bezel and case back are in very good condition for a watch over 50 years old, with no major damage, scratches or gouges.

The watch winds and runs flawlessly, all functions perform correctly with excellent reserve

The watch comes on an original Rolex 6635 riveted expanding link bracelet with 61 endpieces. This is also in excellent vintage condition with insignificant slack and all spring links working. It easily fits my 7.5" wrist and it also fitted on the previous owner's 8" wrist perfectly.

Dick had a wonderful watch collection. When I bought this Daytona, I also bought a couple of speedmasters from him including one of his three beautiful Ed Whites. He need to raise funds to repair one of the engines on his beautiful mahogany boat on the Norfolk Broads. Dick bought this watch from a jeweller in New York. He told me about his trip to pick up the watch in person. It sounded like a great adventure and was indicative of the care that he took in selecting only the best vintage watches. When I purchased the watch from him, I drove from Cheshire to Norfolk to pick it up and the deal was done on his boat.

I don't need to sell this, but two of my children are going to buying their own homes this year and I'd like to help them both by paying their deposits and this watch should cover that.

The watch is currently in a safe deposit box. If anyone would like to view this watch in person, I would be happy to arrange this in the premises of my Rolex AD in south Cheshire. They will also vouch for the watch's integrity and provenance.

Obviously this is an expensive watch and estimations of its value will be wide. I have tried to price this appropriately given its condition and provenance. It is significantly cheaper than the only other watch listed on Chrono24 here in the UK (and that looks a lot worse in terms of condition, etc).

I am not really looking at any trades against this, but if it is a deal clincher then I might consider a Patek of some sort or perhaps a more modern Rolex piece or two.

£51,000 ono.

Onto the pictures: