Every now and then we get a message from someone who lets us know that they're selling a watch. But it's certainly not every day that the watch going up for sale is an original-owner Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6265 from 1972, especially restored by Rolex. Yeah, you heard that right. This is a true heavy-hitter. Seeing this one in the metal was a highlight of my time at Fratello so far. Earlier this week, Kenny Vaes from Relleb paid us a visit here at Fratello HQ, and showed us the watch. We sat and had a chat about the watch's story, how he came to own it, the work Rolex did on it, and when and where it will be put up for sale. If you're in the market for a very special watch, or just want to enjoy some vintage Rolex goodness, you've come to the right place.Despite the fact that the Speedmaster is the Fratello chronograph of choice, we certainly have a lot of love for the classic Daytona. In fact, a couple of the guys even own one, and it's a grail for others. Personally, I have no love for the modern ceramic-bezel Daytonas, but seeing this 1972 Daytona 6265 has made me not only a big fan of the Rolex chronograph, but it has also taught me that the 37mm form factor makes for Daytona perfection. Even on the wrist next to Bert's modern 40mm Daytona, you would never guess that there's a full 3mm difference in case size. And on the wrist, well, there's not much out there that compares.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6265 The meet-cuteSo let's start at the beginning. My first question for Kenny was about how he came across the watch. The answer was rather simple and the kind of story we all dream of for ourselves. As a watch enthusiast, Kenny spent a lot of time in Amsterdam's watch shops. One day in October 2019, he happened to be in one specializing in high-end vintage watches. Here is where he observed a conversation taking place at the counter. A man had placed his watch on the glass surface, and the watch dealer behind the counter was carefully observing it. It was clear that the man was looking to sell this watch. The dealer behind the counter kept the watch, and the gentleman left the shop. Having caught a glimpse of the watch in question, and having recognized its unmistakable looks from a few meters away, Kenny ran after him.
The original owner (left) wearing the Rolex 6265He caught up with the man and asked him about the watch. After a brief chat, the two men came to an agreement. Kenny would out-bid whatever the estimate given to the man by the shop was by a fair margin, and then he would call the watch his own. Already in that brief encounter, Kenny found that they had a lot in common, with both of them having a connection to the Zeeland area of The Netherlands and even the town of Goes. This is where the grandmother of the owner had received it as a gift from her loving husband (a sailor) in the early '70s. He chose the Daytona so she could time horse races (her hobby and passion). She was always proud of the watch and wore it for many years.
From one owner to the nextThe man's watch-selling journey had started at a pawn shop, whose 100 offer he thankfully declined. He later received an offer from a colleague for 3,000, which made him look deeper into the watch's value, and eventually, he made the trip up to Amsterdam to get a professional opinion. This is where he and Kenny crossed paths. The human connection and an offer topping that of the watch store meant that Kenny would become the new owner of the watch. But the sentimental value would prove hard for the man to overcome. After giving it some thought, going back and forth, and receiving his mother's blessing, the man decided to make the sale.
Keep in mind that at this point, Kenny hadn't yet seen the watch in person. A visit to his hometown brought him close to the area where the seller lived, so he decided to drop by and finalize the purchase. This is where Kenny first saw the watch, in its honest and well-worn condition. This was a watch from a time before keeping your valuable timepiece in a safe was as commonplace as it is today. After the watch had changed hands, Kenny took the Daytona 6265 to a large Dutch boutique, where he wanted to get it checked and eventually restored. But never fear this is no horror story, as the pictures have revealed to you already.
The watch on the original owners wrist proudly worn for many yearsA tool watch put to workI believe it's worth mentioning the watch's past life before talking about its more recent endeavors. This 1972 reverse panda Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6265 was certainly put through its paces by the original owner. The seller's grandmother purchased it for herself in the early 1970s. A chronograph was a tool for her, and as an avid horse rider, she certainly found a use for it. Below, you can see a copy of the Rolex Atelier de Restauration's assessment of the watch upon receipt, including two pictures of the watch in its original condition. Having seen pictures already of the watch in its current state, it's hard to believe how it once looked. gallery-1 {margin: auto;} gallery-1 .gallery-item {float: left;margin-top: 10px;text-align: center;width: 50%;} gallery-1 img {border: 2px solid cfcfcf;} gallery-1 .gallery-caption {margin-left: 0;}/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Keep in mind that the original bracelet was not sent into Rolex. Kenny was advised not to do this, as often the brand's restoration service (which has a reputation for being rather mysterious in its ways) will simply keep the old bracelet and replace it with a newer one. But the mission here was to respectfully restore, removing the blemishes and imperfections gathered in the watch's past life and employment as a true tool. Much like how barn-find classic cars from the period are restored maintaining originality, yet restoring function and aesthetics to give them a new life. As a firm believer in actually wearing your watches, Kenny wanted to be able to wear this watch confidently, so a full restoration was the way to go.
The Rolex restorationKenny shipped the 6265 Daytona to Rolex in February of 2020. This is when he received the initial report above. The restoration process went on to take just over the 32 weeks estimated by Rolex in the report. Above, you can also see the list of necessary steps in restoration, as well as an optional, recommended replacement of the lume on the dial and the hour and minute hands. In the end, Kenny opted against this step, as he found it more important to maintain the watch's original state as much as possible. You can also see that Rolex provided a new leather strap and buckle, as well as a beautiful new wooden exhibition box for the watch and a book detailing the restoration process.
