Once considered a commercial accident, the Rolex 6262 Daytona is not only one of the rarest vintage replica rolex watches ever made, but it is now one of the most collectible references on the vintage market. Only in production for about a year, the Daytona ref. 6262 was a transitional model.

The first series launched in 1963 was the 6269, featuring a 37 mm case, an engraved tachymeter bezel, three subdials on the dial, and a hand-wound movement based on the Valjoux. Two years later, in 1965, the 6241 series was joined by the same specifications, except for the bezel, which was black acrylic with a tachymeter scale.
The Rolex Daytona 6262 features a 37 mm case with a metal bezel bearing a tachymeter scale. Used in conjunction with a central chronograph hand on the dial, the tachymeter scale allows the wearer to measure the average speed and/or distance of a moving object – such as a racing car. In addition, the Daytona 6262 and its twin, the 6264, are the last of the Rolex Daytona chronographs to feature pump pushers. These will eventually be replaced by more water-resistant screw-in pushers.

As is customary with vintage Daytona, the 6262 has three subdials whose colors contrast with the main dial color. For instance, steel models have a silver dial with black subdials, or a black dial with silver subdials. On the other hand, gold models usually have a black dial with a gold-colored subdial, or a gold-colored dial with a black subdial. Due to the age of the existing Daytona 6262 watches, it is easy to notice that the original black subdials have been transformed into a delicious creamy cappuccino brown color.

Rolex also equipped some Daytona 6262 watches with exotic dials, also known as “Paul Newman” dials. The main difference between the exotic dial and the traditional Daytona dial is that the former consists of a contrasting minute track on the periphery and subdials with Art Deco-style numerals and hash marks. For many Rolex collectors, any vintage Daytona with a Paul Newman dial is the Holy Grail – but the Daytona 6262 with a Paul Newman dial is nothing short of legendary.
Starting at around $60,000, the Daytona 6262 watch is a steel version of the standard silver dial. Throw together the coveted Paul Newman dial or gold model, however, and you’re looking at a six-figure price tag. While Rolex may have made a business mistake in designing and marketing this particular imitation watches, current collectors consider the Daytona 6262 to be a rare and valuable item. While it is a short-lived reference, the 6262 captures a moment in Rolex’s history that many would love the opportunity to own one.