The next highlight of the Christies November sale is a very rare Rolex Dato-compax Reference 6236 made in 1962.

Rolex is not known for complicated watches. Most of their watches are strong and simple tool watches with little complications built into them (complications is more the domain of Patek Philippe).

However in the early 1950s and 1960s Rolex did make several complicated watches, including in this case, ‘triple calendar’ wristwatches.

The 6236 (main picture) is a triple calendar wristwatch.

In fact until today the 6236 or Dato -compax is one of Rolex’s most complicated watches ever made. Collectors also call the 6236 Rolex a ‘Killy’ named after the French Ski Champion Jean Claude Killy who won several gold medals at the Olympics in the 1960s and was known to wear this model.

The Dato-compax or Killy was made in three series and the watch above is the last series-which we think is also the most attractive. There are several things to like about the watch above.

First- the watch all original-which is critical. The dial, while not perfect, is a correct example – so are the hands and long arrow pointing towards the date. Secondly; the case is not over polished and the serial numbers remain sharp and crisp between the lugs. Third and we think this is also important for such a watch- the new owner will get the original guarantee, the original instruction booklet as well as the original receipt -all rare items in themselves.

What is interesting to note is that the watch remained unsold for three years (the watch was made in 1962 but sold in 1965 according to papers). This was not unusual as some Rolex models were not initially successful when they came out and only years later would become collector items (this was the case with the Daytona for example).

The only negative we can find with this watch is the dial. While completely original and charming- it shows heavy use of wear and is slightly damaged (presumably water damage). Mint condition Killy watches in steel fetch at least CHF 5oo’ooo (see the world record steel killy here) -so the estimate of this Killy at CHF 120-180′ooo is reasonable.

It is highly likely that this watch will exceed this estimate. For the original listing of this watch see here.

by Edmond Saran