ROLEX COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA REF. 6263 "BIG RED", CIRCA 1980 Three body tonneau Oyster stainless steel case, n. 6393158, black 2nd series bezel with graduated tachymetric scale to 200 units, screw back stamped 6263, Triplock crown and 3rd generation screwed pushers. Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet reference 78350, deployant clasp, end-links 571.
Silvered dial signed, red Daytona inscription above the hour register, T Swiss T indication, applied bâton indexes side by side with tritium dots, outer minute and 1/5th of a second divisions, black engine turned subsidiary dials for seconds, 30-min and 12-hour registers. Luminous bâton hands.
Manual winding movement, five line signed bridge, rhodium-plated caliber 727, n. 12804, 17 jewels, column wheel system for the chronograph, lever escapement, monometallic balance with screws and Microstella regulation, self-compensating free sprung Breguet hairspring, KIF Elastor shock-absorber. 
Accompanied by Gobbi Milano service invoice dated October 1987.
Diameter Ø: 37 mm
Note: working.

The Rolex Daytona 6263 is the rightful successor to the 6240 reference, because, unlike the 6265, it preserves the bezel with the black insert, a characteristic which made its way into the common imagery of the sports chronograph.
Produced since the early '70s, both the 6263 and the 6265 references remained in production until the late ‘80s, when Rolex introduced its first chronograph with automatic movement, the 16520 reference. Given the extended period of time in which they were marketed, the 6263 and the 6265 are perhaps the two Daytona references par excellence, which have helped make this watch a real status symbol, in addition to Rolex’s flagship model.
The watch offered in this auction represents the most iconic and desired version by collectors, with the "Panda" dial and Daytona printed in large red characters, called "Big Red", which was introduced in the mid ‘70s above the hour counter. The watch was consigned by the first and only owner, who carefully preserved each component in excellent condition.