You know that the replica Rolex Daytona differs in that it is fitted with a metallic bezel craft from stainless steel or gold, instead of a black one made from acrylic. Although the actual case diameter of this generation of Daytona watches was no greater than that of the previous one, the larger design of the screw-down chronograph pushers gave the reference 6263 and the reference 6265 Rolex Daytona an obviously thicker and more muscular overall appearance than that of the previous generation that used traditional, pump-style pushers. Despite still depending on a manually wound, Valjoux 727 movement, the widespread implementation of screw-down chronograph pushers on this generation of Daytona watches marks a turning point in the Daytona’s history and makes the two fake Rolex some of the most desirable vintage Rolex references to own.
Apart from their perfect blend of modern and vintage aesthetics, one of the reasons why collectors are so drawn to reference 6263 and reference 6265 is the big variety of dials that were fitted to these watches throughout their relatively long production run. Dial variations include everything from the iconic “Red Daytona” (both big and small font), to the ever-popular “Paul Newman”/exotic dial – or in the case of this particular reference 6265 Daytona, the lesser-known, and often misunderstood “sigma dial.”
The tiny, round marks sometimes found on either side of the “Swiss” or “Swiss Made” text at the very bottom of certain watch dials from the 1970s are actually the lowercase Greek letter sigma, hence the rather-appropriate, “sigma dial” nickname. Numerous rumors and myths surround these often-unnoticed, sigma markings; however, the consensus is that they were a mark used by certain Swiss manufacturers to signify that the hands and hour indexes on a given watch were craft from solid gold.
As a result, sigma dials are not a trait that can be uniformly found across all Swiss brands, and there are no consistent and symmetrical dates for when sigma dial markings first started to appear, or for when they stopped being used. For these Rolex replica watches, serial number records suggest that sigma dials first started to appear around 1970 and were phased out towards the end of that decade.
It is the numerous vintage Rolex Daytona chronographs, tiny details across the different references that drive much of the value and excitement for collectors. Sigma dials, like the one fitted to this reference 6265 Rolex Daytona from 1972, are representative of an interesting and pivotal time within the entire watch industry when new competition from electronic and quartz movements forced traditional mechanical timepiece manufacturers to highlight other aspects of their products, such as the quality and material value of their components.
While the idea of promoting the value and exclusivity of mechanical watches was first introduced during the early 1970s, these attributes have now become the cornerstone principles that drive the majority of the modern luxury watch industry – and the high prices that manufacturers ask for their various works.