I like to write about early Rolex chronographs, so called ‘predaytona’. Unlike the Daytona, and especially the Paul Newman Daytona, they don’t get the respect they deserve.
I have written about a very rare steel 6034 with black dial before – but this time I will turn the attention to its rarer cousin – the gold Rolex 6034 Predaytona from the 1950s.
There are plenty of rare early Rolex chronographs that are beautiful and rare.
Some of them I already covered in my blog, like the 6032, but I could also mention the 2508 black dial, or if we stay with gold, the Rolex 3335 with black dial also made in the 1940s.* But these are often 3 piece cases with a ‘snap on’ case back, and I wanted to write about something slightly more modern and with an oyster case.
This leads to me the elusive 6034 in gold. Which is also my next PAK watch: A 1952/53 Rolex 6034 in Gold.
*(Credit: John Goldberger).
(Picture credit: Antiquorum).
The 6034 in gold is collectable for many reasons.
First, is the relatively modern look of the watch with its oyster case. Secondly, not more than 100-110 watches were made in gold – making this reference in good condition difficult to come by. Third, the complex multiscale dial is a piece of art and in inky blue, a nice contrast to the white dial.
On a side note: Indeed a few watches were made in pink gold, which take rarity even one step further. However the best examples I found were never sold at auction, like this example, a rare pulsation dial pink gold 6034 (credit: John Goldberger).
If we take a closer look at the watch below you notice the exceptional condition of the dial.
The dial is remarkable for several reasons:
- First, the blue telemeter scale contrasts nicely with the white dial and seems not faded.
- Secondly, the dial layout is itself attractive with the telemeter scale going through the middle of the watch, rather than further down like here, which I find less attractive.
- Third, almost all 6034 gold I have been able to study were without lume. It is my guess that Rolex reserved lume more for steel 6034 watches, like this 6034 (picture above) which sold at Antiquorum last year. If you notice this watch has small lume plots that have aged nicely near the hour markers of the dial.
- Fourth, what I particularly like about this watch are the diamond type shaped hour markers.
The Rolex crown is typical of early 6034 Rolex chronographs and the hands masculine in shape and without lume.
Furthermore the case seems in overall very attractive condition. Below another picture of the same 6034 – this time with gold bracelet.
(Credit: John Goldberger)
Another close-up of the dial of this fantastic watch.
(Credit: John Goldberger)
Back in 2006, this watch sold for an incredible CHF 94’000 – almost triple the high estimate of CHF 32’000. One collector clearly recognised the quality and extreme rarity of this watch. Consider that at that time gold 6263 with champagne dial or gold 6263 Paul Newman were selling for CHF 50-60’000.
The 6034 was always sought after by collectors who recognised it’s elite status among Rolex collecting . Even in 2012 a nice Rolex 6034 gold watch sold for an incredible CHF 146’500.
The gold 6034 Rolex, in good condition, is a trophy watch for Rolex collectors. One of the earliest Rolex chronographs with oyster case and made in very small amounts. A true PAK watch.
