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Gérald Genta is universally regarded as one of the most influential and visionary watch designers of the 20th century. His unmistakable aesthetic language gave life to some of the most iconic timepieces ever created, including the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus and Golden Ellipse, Omega Constellation, IWC Ingenieur and Cartier Pasha.

In 1969, Genta founded his own eponymous manufacture, allowing him full creative freedom to explore complex horology combined with bold yet harmonious design. In addition to delivering exceptional masterpieces in the realm of Haute Horlogerie (such as the Grande and Petite Sonnerie, minute-repeaters, cathedral gongs, perpetual calendars, split-seconds chronographs, etc.), the Genevan manufacture also produced quartz watches, both with and without horological complications.

The present example belongs to this production of quartz watches with complications. It features a perpetual calendar with moonphase and is distinguished by a full titanium case paired with an integrated titanium bracelet. The grey carbon dial is further enriched by mother of pearl and lapis lazuli subdials.

This timepiece is part of a special series commissioned by the royal court of Brunei from the Geneva-based house of Gérald Genta, as indicated by the floral emblem positioned at 4 o clock.
These watches feature the emblems of Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei since 1967, as well as those of members of his family. Among them is his brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah —represented in the present example by a stylised floral motif, believed by some to incorporate the initials “JB” — or his nephew, Prince Abdul Hakeem, whose initials ‘AH’ are presented in a stylised form on other examples.

These so-called ‘presentation’ watches are often given by a leader (Emperor, King, President, Prime minister, business magnate, etc.) or in their name, as a gesture of recognition or gratitude towards a third party.

Gérald Genta is universally regarded as one of the most influential and visionary watch designers of the 20th century. Born in Geneva in 1931, he trained as a jeweler and goldsmith, a background that profoundly shaped his approach to watch design. His unmistakable aesthetic language gave life to some of the most iconic timepieces ever created, including the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus and Golden Ellipse, Omega Constellation, IWC Ingenieur and Cartier Pasha.

In 1969, Genta founded his own eponymous manufacture, allowing him full creative freedom to explore complex horology combined with bold yet harmonious design. The present timepiece is a refined example of this philosophy. Featuring a self-winding movement with a full perpetual calendar, it embodies technical sophistication balanced by remarkable elegance.

The present example features a stainless-steel case with Gérald Genta’s signature lugless design, offering a smooth, continuous profile and excellent wrist comfort. The polished case enhances the sculptural character of the watch and allows the strap to integrate seamlessly into the overall architecture.

The grey carbon fiber dial gives the watch a distinctly technical appearance, contrasted by mother-of-pearl sub-dials that add depth and refinement. The perpetual calendar indications are well balanced and highly legible, framed by applied Roman numerals on the outer chapter ring. Leaf-shaped hands in polished metal complete the elegant composition.

This combination of materials and dial configuration is rarely seen, making the present example a particularly desirable and uncommon expression of Gérald Genta’s design language.

Reference 6263 and 6265 were both introduced in the late 1960s, replacing the reference 6240, the first waterproof Cosmograph Daytona. The reference 6263 and 6265 are identical except for the bezel, although both feature a tachymetric bezel, on the 6265 it is made of steel, while on the 6263 it is made of black acrylic. Both were produced for almost 20 years until 1987 and featured a variety of different dials. One of the rarest dial variants is the so-called “Cream” dial, as the one installed in the present specimen. This type of dial was nicknamed by collectors “Cream” due to its warmer hue compared to the normal grey dial, which is due to the Soleil lacquer finish that was originally applied during the production process. This particular dial variant appeared in the 6263/6265 references produced from the late 70s to early 80s.

The present example of Rolex Daytona reference 6263 has been worn with care and attention and is in excellent general condition with perfect non-stretch bracelet, sharp case, perfectly functioning caliber 727 and immaculate dial with all tritium plots present and responsive to UV light. Furthermore, the present example is distinguished by the highly sought-after so-called “Floating Daytona” signature, in which the “Daytona” text appears slightly detached from the chronograph registers, a detail prized by collectors and consistent with this production period. The watch has never been polished, and the dial remains completely untouched, with its original tritium perfectly preserved. All components of the watch are correct for the production period: “Cream” dial, 727 unnumbered caliber, second series bezel, 24-p301 pushers, triple lock crown, CRS caseback. This is a wonderful watch – the perfect timepiece for anyone looking for a great example of the Daytona 6263.

The 6239 is the very first true Rolex Daytona reference, introduced in 1963 and produced concurrently with its predecessor, the 6238. It remained in production until 1969.
It marked a major evolution in the line by introducing, for the first time, the engraved tachymeter bezel, which helped create a cleaner and more balanced dial layout.

The reference was offered in stainless steel as well as 14k and 18k yellow gold (as with the present example). Gold models were fitted with two dial configurations: champagne with black registers or black with champagne registers, as seen here.
The “Daytona” wording on the dial was introduced only in 1965, appearing either at 12 o’clock or 6 o’clock without a strict pattern.

The watch is powered by the Caliber 722-1, which replaced the earlier Valjoux-based 72B movement.

What makes this particular example stand out is its remarkably well-preserved condition: entirely untouched and never restored, yet showing exceptional overall integrity, complemented by a subtle and charming natural oxidation on the case.

The reference 6238 is one of the most iconic Rolex chronographs ever produced. Introduced in 1961 and manufactured until 1967, it represents the final pre-Daytona reference—although for a short period it was produced alongside the early Daytona models. Total production is estimated at around 4000 pieces, of which approximately 3500 were made in stainless steel, 225 in 14k yellow gold, and just 150 in 18k yellow gold, as in the present example.

Its key defining features include Oyster case, 600-series pump pushers, Oyster Twinlock crown, smooth bezel in matching metal, domed plexiglass crystal and printed tachymeter scale on the dial. Except for the printed scale—later transferred to the bezel—these are the same traits that would go on to define the very first Daytona.

This particular watch belongs to the third series, identified by serial numbers above one million, whose dials were either silver (as on this example) or, more rarely, black. The silver variant could appear in either a lighter tone—like the present example—or in a slightly darker shade. Dating to 1966, it falls right within the period when the 6238 was being produced concurrently with the earliest Daytona references.

It is powered by the caliber 722 movement, introduced in 1965 to replace the earlier Valjoux 72B—a robust, reliable, and historically important manual-wind caliber.

What truly sets this example apart is its remarkable state of preservation. The case, dial, and overall presence remain exceptionally well maintained, making it an extraordinary specimen of one of Rolex’s most significant transitional chronographs.