Independent watch modifier Artisans de Genève has today revealed its Tribute to 6240 Tropical timepiece, an homage to the legendary Rolex Daytona 6240.

Watch nerds will be familiar with the “tropical” patina that appears on a Daytona 6240 after years of wear. It took Artisans de Genève several years to formulate an oxidation process that could produce a uniform amber patina for use on the Tribute to 6240 Tropical.

To achieve the effect, the Swiss craftsmen will go so far as to send the watch dials to the Bahamas to mature in the tropical climate. Not only that, the buyer will have a choice of two tones for the dials, achieved by choosing one of two different aging periods: five weeks for a dark patina and seven weeks for an amber one. Meanwhile, the ceramic bezel of the 116520 Daytona has been replaced by a bakelite bezel, an element typical to ’70s models.

Artisans de Genève offers an exclusive modification service based on different classic watch styles, with limited quantities available of each model. This Daytona tribute is limited to 15 pieces, which are assembled on request in the group's Geneva workshop.

The Tribute to 6240 Tropical is available to order via Artisans de Genève.