Designer Kim Jones spotted wearing a Rolex

Designer Kim Jones recently appeared wearing a yellow gold Rolex Daytona ref. 6263, positioned notably over his black sleeve—a deliberate styling statement that underscores the watch's substantial proportions and collector prestige. The ref. 6263 stands as one of the most significant iterations of Rolex's professional chronograph line, marking the transition from earlier push-button designs to a more robust engineering platform.

The ref. 6263 debuted in 1970 and remained in production through the late 1980s, powered by the Valjoux 7750-derived calibre—actually the Rolex calibre 7750 movement, a vertical-clutch chronograph that delivers reliable 12-hour timing across three registers. The case measures 40mm in diameter and 14.5mm in thickness, machined from 18k yellow gold in this instance, with an Oyster bracelet in matching metal. The dial presents a cream background with three black subdials positioned at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. The defining characteristic is the black acrylic bezel with luminous hour markers, paired with screw-down pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock—innovations introduced specifically to enhance the water resistance of the Oyster case to 100 metres.

Among Daytona collectors, the ref. 6263 occupies a singular position: it bridges the earlier manual-wind 6262 and the later integrated 7750-based references that followed. Yellow gold examples remain relatively scarce compared to stainless steel variants, and the condition of the acrylic bezel—prone to crazing and discolouration over decades—significantly affects desirability. Unpolished, well-preserved cases in yellow gold command premium attention at auction and amongst serious horologists.

Kim Jones' choice of this vintage reference aligns with a broader shift among contemporary designers toward authentic sports watches from the 1970s and 1980s, a period when Rolex prioritised functional engineering over marketing mythology. Wearing it over the cuff, as Jones does here, echoes the tool-watch aesthetic that defined professional Daytona owners—pilots, racecar drivers, and precision-focused individuals for whom the chronograph was genuinely necessary rather than decorative.

On the secondary market, yellow gold ref. 6263 examples typically command USD 35,000–50,000 depending on dial condition, bezel state, and service history. Well-maintained examples without dial redial remain highly sought; original acrylic bezels showing patina (rather than damage) are now appreciated as markers of authenticity, a significant shift from earlier collector preferences for pristine restoration.