Once considered a commercial accident, the Rolex 6262 Daytona is not only one of the rarest vintage replica rolex watches ever made, but it is now one of the most collectible references on the vintage market. Only in production for about a year, the Daytona ref. 6262 was a transitional model.

The first series launched in 1963 was the 6269, featuring a 37 mm case, an engraved tachymeter bezel, three subdials on the dial, and a hand-wound movement based on the Valjoux. Two years later, in 1965, the 6241 series was joined by the same specifications, except for the bezel, which was black acrylic with a tachymeter scale.
The Rolex Daytona 6262 features a 37 mm case with a metal bezel bearing a tachymeter scale. Used in conjunction with a central chronograph hand on the dial, the tachymeter scale allows the wearer to measure the average speed and/or distance of a moving object – such as a racing car. In addition, the Daytona 6262 and its twin, the 6264, are the last of the Rolex Daytona chronographs to feature pump pushers. These will eventually be replaced by more water-resistant screw-in pushers.

As is customary with vintage Daytona, the 6262 has three subdials whose colors contrast with the main dial color. For instance, steel models have a silver dial with black subdials, or a black dial with silver subdials. On the other hand, gold models usually have a black dial with a gold-colored subdial, or a gold-colored dial with a black subdial. Due to the age of the existing Daytona 6262 watches, it is easy to notice that the original black subdials have been transformed into a delicious creamy cappuccino brown color.

Rolex also equipped some Daytona 6262 watches with exotic dials, also known as “Paul Newman” dials. The main difference between the exotic dial and the traditional Daytona dial is that the former consists of a contrasting minute track on the periphery and subdials with Art Deco-style numerals and hash marks. For many Rolex collectors, any vintage Daytona with a Paul Newman dial is the Holy Grail – but the Daytona 6262 with a Paul Newman dial is nothing short of legendary.
Starting at around $60,000, the Daytona 6262 watch is a steel version of the standard silver dial. Throw together the coveted Paul Newman dial or gold model, however, and you’re looking at a six-figure price tag. While Rolex may have made a business mistake in designing and marketing this particular imitation watches, current collectors consider the Daytona 6262 to be a rare and valuable item. While it is a short-lived reference, the 6262 captures a moment in Rolex’s history that many would love the opportunity to own one.

I happen to know someone who is in the market for a new replica watch – a Breitling Aerospace to be so particular. Now, this weird old ana-digi watch might not have much going for it, but, really at the first glance, for a watch so light, this watch packs a big punch. Do you know the reason?
However, it might not be as so charming as the movement or the dial, but in terms of real-world user-friendliness, it’s the kingmaker or deal-breaker.

The problem is that watchmakers and fans are conditioned to a very top-down visual approach of watches. Look at any brand’s site, or most of the watches on internet, and what do you see? And, honestly, that’s the dial and it makes sense. The top-down dial shot encompasses most of what a watch is about. The dial is the visual star, and a typical wrist shot at least gives you some sense of what a watch looks like on the wrist, but it doesn’t really give you any sense of what it’s like to wear a watch on the wrist, because and this seems obvious to state — a watch is a three-dimensional object.

We’re pretty big on trying to get you as close as possible to what a watch is like IRL, which is why we spend a lot of time on our video reviews, and are occasionally guilty of the odd bit of spam. Because proportion matters, and in an age when we’re purchasing watches online, sight-unseen, understanding those proportions matters more than ever. I can easily think of half a dozen fake watches that I love in theory and in pictures, but as soon as I strap them on my wrist, my heart goes cold
The same can be said about replica Tudor, who pleased critics with the introduction of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight, and while the slightly smaller diameter is a good option, most people I know are really excited about the slimmed down, far less slabby case design
I’ve got nothing against having a tall watch on the wrist. What I rejected is a badly designed thick watch. Sometimes you can turn a chunky, barely machined slab of steel on the wrist into a deliberate design decision, but otherwise there’s so much to be said about smartly engineered casebacks and lugs that ensure the comfort matches the heft.

I think I’ve got two major points here. To begin with, to the consumer: wherever possible, try a watch on the wrist first. Wearability is the most important issue we need to consider, and case height and profile is a key factor in that equation. My second message is to the people making watches: remember that the things you make are intended to be worn. And while in some cases, I would be glad to concede that watches can be ‘worn’ in the same way as haute couture is worn, that is the exception. You want people to love and buy your watches and to wear them with confidence? It’s not enough to pop an in-house movement in and mix it up with some new dial options and a new marketing angle, you are required to make the replica watches that functions well on the wrist.