A COLLECTABLE MEN'S ROLEX STAINLESS STEEL MANUAL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH.
Pre Daytona.

Brand: Rolex
Model: Pre-Daytona
Case reference: 6034
Year: Circa 1953
Movement: Manual chronograph, Cal. 72
Dial: White with a cream patina, rose gold applied hours markers, black outer minute division, rose gold leaf hands, blued centre seconds hand for the chronograph, blue outer Tachymeter division, subsidiary dial for seconds at the nine o'clock position, subsidiary dial for chronograph minutes at the three o'clock position, subsidiary dial for chronograph hours at the six o'clock position
Material: Stainless steel
Bracelet/Strap: Generic brown leather, stainless steel buckle
Signed: Dial, movement, case, buckle
Dimension: 36mm

Before the Rolex Daytona became the most sought-after chronograph in the world, there was the Rolex Reference 6034, a watch that laid the foundation for Rolex’s legendary racing chronographs. Introduced in the early 1950s, this model was part of the brand’s first generation of manually wound chronographs, bridging the gap between Rolex’s early chronographs of the 1940s and the famous Cosmograph Daytona of the 1960s.

A Transition Between Eras

Produced from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, the Rolex 6034 represents a significant moment in horological history. Unlike the later Daytona models, this watch lacks the signature “Oyster” screw-down pushers, instead featuring traditional pump pushers, giving it a sleeker and more elegant profile. Its 36mm stainless steel case was a perfect balance between functionality and sophistication, appealing to both professional and civilian wearers.

Although the Rolex 6034 predates the official Daytona branding, its design was already geared towards motorsports and precision timing. The tachymeter scale on the outer rim of the dial allowed drivers and engineers to measure speed with ease—features that would later define Rolex’s racing chronographs.

In essence, the Rolex 6034 is one of the most important pre-Daytona chronographs, offering both historical significance and timeless elegance. As a rare model from the early 1950s, it represents an era when Rolex was still refining its identity in the world of chronographs.