Given the attention on sports watches these days, when most people think of the Rolex Daytona, contemporary models are likely what come to mind first.

Be it a stainless steel model with a ceramic bezel, a full precious metal piece with a striking dial color, or even the recent Zenith-powered or in-house models with steel bezels, Rolex's range-topping chronograph are amongst the hottest watches on the planet.

But if you peer back a just few years - before contemporary watches were all the rage and very much in the spotlight, it was the vintage pieces that captured the imaginations and attention of the experienced enthusiast.

Following the production of the Reference 6238 'Pre-Daytona' chronographs, Rolex introduced the first to models to bear "Daytona" nomenclature on their dials - the Reference 6239. Introduced in 1963, these lovely pieces were also the first to feature a tachymeter bezel and a contrasting dial and sub register layout that has become a coveted characteristic of Daytonas and many a lookalike since.

This particular timepiece, a Reference 6265, dates to circa 1978 and features an absolutely fantastic 36mm Oyster case with holey lugs, a domed acrylic crystal, a signed screw-down crown, screw-down pushers, and an excellent sunburst silver Tritium 'panda' dial with red "Daytona" text above the 6:00 register and a matching handset.

Powered by the venerable Valjoux 72 hand-cranking movement, this piece comes paired to a folded-link Oyster bracelet with a signed blade clasp.

This example remains in superb overall condition — one of the finest examples that we have ever come across — and makes for an excellent addition to any collection.

Public attention might be focused on its younger siblings for the time being - but in our minds, there is no substitute for the original!