Rolex model 6298 serial 172xxx

[Shred9464]

How rare is this model 6298 with that early of a serial number 172017 (yr.1940)?
This is only the second one I have seen on the market. Does anyone know anything about it? It is my understanding that it is very rare.

[joe100]

The serials reset in 1953. You watch was made around then. It's is NOT from the 1940s, no way. It's about 15 years older. Your bracelet will give you a clue as well. See that little circle in the last picture? That's a date stamp for the bracelet. It only applies to the bracelet though. That style of oyster case and that reference number are much later than 1941

[marcello pisani]

seen also with the word " explorer " on the dial .
case number is from the first months of 1956.
it has an A296 movement , " tropic 21 " glass and a 600 crown ( signed with the " + " ).
the ref. 6299 is the same but metal-mist (steel/gold ).

[marcello pisani]

most belong to an Austrian collector friend of mine ( Grusses !! )
from top to bottom :
1) 6298 standard dial
2) 6298 stepped dial ( same kind of dial seen in 6352 )
3) 6298 " explorer " dial
3) 6299 black honeycomb dial.

[joe100]

The serials reset in 1953. Your watch is from around 1955, not 1941

[Shred9464]

Thanks for the info. It is going to take a whole lot of to get this watch looking as good as one of those in the pics. That will be up to some one else. I am just the one who happened to stumble on to it. "Blind squirrels find acorns sometimes". I am just trying to figure out what it is worth. The band is in very good shape but the watch needs a lot of work. Thanks again

[marcello pisani]

sorry I have done some "casino " with the twin threads !

[marcello pisani]

Originally Posted by Shred9464

Thanks for the info. It is going to take a whole lot of to get this watch looking as good as one of those in the pics. That will be up to some one else. I am just the one who happened to stumble on to it. "Blind squirrels find acorns sometimes". I am just trying to figure out what it is worth. The band is in very good shape but the watch needs a lot of work. Thanks again

but believe me the case has been produced around the first quarter of 1956.
btw case numbers from 1953 are all in the 900.000 range ( before they arrive to 999.999 and begun back in 1954 from around 10.000 ).

[Mike Wood]

Originally Posted by Shred9464

Thanks for the info. It is going to take a whole lot of to get this watch looking as good as one of those in the pics. That will be up to some one else. I am just the one who happened to stumble on to it. "Blind squirrels find acorns sometimes". I am just trying to figure out what it is worth. The band is in very good shape but the watch needs a lot of work. Thanks again

Is this the watch you currently have for sale on eBay..?

[TimeToGo]

Originally Posted by marcello pisani

sorry I have done some "casino " with the twin threads !

They were not deleted. The OP has two threads with the same topic..

Here is the other thread:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=317551

[marcello pisani]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

They were not deleted. The OP has two threads with the same topic..

Here is the other thread:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=317551

I didn't notice the other thread !!

[joe100]

Took me a bit to realize there are two threads too.

[Shred9464]

Yes, that is the watch on eBay.

[hills]

Here's my 6298 from 1953. They have quite an interesting story behind them, allegedly being the model Hillary took to the summit, although he wore another sponsors watch at the summit. Because of that, they were what became the "Explorer" range thus some people refer to them as pre-explorers.

I've seen people ask US$5k for them, although I've also seen people ask US$10k more than that, perhaps a bit optimistically. I can't tell you what they actually get for them though. Nice find!

[marcello pisani]

depending on his conditions as another pristine one is almost impossible to find...

[bradley09]

Wow... so this watch I had left to me could be worth that much? It needs a crystal but I have just been wearing it and using it. Is this the same watch... marked 6298 on the side.

Originally Posted by hills

Here's my 6298 from 1953. They have quite an interesting story behind them, allegedly being the model Hillary took to the summit, although he wore another sponsors watch at the summit. Because of that, they were what became the "Explorer" range thus some people refer to them as pre-explorers.

I've seen people ask US$5k for them, although I've also seen people ask US$10k more than that, perhaps a bit optimistically. I can't tell you what they actually get for them though. Nice find!