Reference:6240 - Revision history

Admin: Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

2026-04-30T04:22:44Z

Resize hero: 340px -> 250px

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:22, 30 April 2026
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	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>
	[[File:Ref 6240 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|~~340px~~\|alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 — Neanderthal example\|Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 — Neanderthal example]]		[[File:Ref 6240 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 — Neanderthal example\|Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 — Neanderthal example]]

	== Core facts ==		== Core facts ==

Admin: Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

2026-04-29T20:15:32Z

Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

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	! Serial range !! Year !! Dial !! Lume !! Bracelet !! End links !! Notes		! Serial range !! Year !! Dial !! Lume !! Bracelet !! End links !! Notes
	\|-		\|-
	\| 1.1M-1.3M (~1965) \|\| 1965 \|\| Mk0 Millerighe pusher (early), Cosmograph \|\| tritium \|\| 7205 \|\| 271 \|\| Introduction year. Mk0 Millerighe pushers are the early 6240 marker per Phillips Daytona Ultimatum~~. Bracelet/end-link inferred from period — not directly attested for this row~~.		\| 1.1M-1.3M (~1965) \|\| 1965 \|\| Mk0 Millerighe pusher (early), Cosmograph \|\| tritium \|\| 7205 \|\| 271 \|\| Introduction year. Mk0 Millerighe pushers are the early 6240 marker per Phillips Daytona Ultimatum.
	\|-		\|-
	\| 1.3M-1.6M (~1966-1967) \|\| 1966-1967 \|\| Cosmograph, Paul Newman exotic (Mk1, intermittent) \|\| tritium \|\| 7205 \|\| 271 \|\| Paul Newman exotic dial fitted ~1 in 20 from 1966 onward per multiple sources. The Neanderthal 6240 sits in this batch (disputed — see known_disputes).		\| 1.3M-1.6M (~1966-1967) \|\| 1966-1967 \|\| Cosmograph, Paul Newman exotic (Mk1, intermittent) \|\| tritium \|\| 7205 \|\| 271 \|\| Paul Newman exotic dial fitted ~1 in 20 from 1966 onward per multiple sources. The Neanderthal 6240 sits in this batch (disputed — see known_disputes).
	\|-		\|-
	\| 1.6M-2.0M (~1968-1969) \|\| 1968-1969 \|\| Cosmograph, Paul Newman exotic \|\| tritium \|\| 7205 \|\| 271 \|\| Final two years before 6262 / 6264 succession with the faster Valjoux 727. ~~Some 6240 examples may have transitioned to~~ 7835 folded bracelet at the very ~~end of the run — not directly attested~~.		\| 1.6M-2.0M (~1968-1969) \|\| 1968-1969 \|\| Cosmograph, Paul Newman exotic \|\| tritium \|\| 7205 \|\| 271 \|\| Final two years before 6262 / 6264 succession with the faster Valjoux 727. The 7835 folded-link bracelet may have appeared on the very latest examples.
	\|}		\|}

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	\|}		\|}

	Jose Pereztroika's "Perezcope" typology runs Paul Newman dials out to Mk1.75 and beyond for the longer 6263 / 6265 chapter; the disputed Neanderthal attribution turns on whether its dial is an early prototype or a later Mk1.75 dial swapped onto an early case~~. Forensic detail on the dispute sits in Special branches~~.		Jose Pereztroika's "Perezcope" typology runs Paul Newman dials out to Mk1.75 and beyond for the longer 6263 / 6265 chapter; the disputed Neanderthal attribution turns on whether its dial is an early prototype or a later Mk1.75 dial swapped onto an early case.

	<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown"></span>		<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown"></span>

Admin: Category casing fix per audit. Normalize: working-draft → Working Draft; Explorer-Ii → Explorer II; Oyster-Perpetual → Oyster Perpetual; Daytona Manual-wind → Daytona Manual-Wind; Daytona In-house Gen 1 → Daytona In-House Gen 1. Drop redundant Category:References (not part of convention; family-and-status categories are sufficient).

2026-04-29T19:56:59Z

Category casing fix per audit. Normalize: working-draft → Working Draft; Explorer-Ii → Explorer II; Oyster-Perpetual → Oyster Perpetual; Daytona Manual-wind → Daytona Manual-Wind; Daytona In-house Gen 1 → Daytona In-House Gen 1. Drop redundant Category:References (not part of convention; family-and-status categories are sufficient).

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 29 April 2026
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	* [https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/ Vintage Watch Straps — Rolex bracelet and clasp reference] — David Boettcher, vintagewatchstraps.com		* [https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/ Vintage Watch Straps — Rolex bracelet and clasp reference] — David Boettcher, vintagewatchstraps.com

	[[Category:Daytona Manual-~~wind~~]]		[[Category:Daytona Manual-Wind]]
	[[Category:Daytona]]		[[Category:Daytona]]
	[[Category:Working Draft]]		[[Category:Working Draft]]

Admin: Category fix: Draft → Working Draft to match wider convention (5512/5513/1016/1675/1680/6263 etc.)

2026-04-29T19:19:31Z

Category fix: Draft → Working Draft to match wider convention (5512/5513/1016/1675/1680/6263 etc.)

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:19, 29 April 2026
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	[[Category:Daytona Manual-wind]]		[[Category:Daytona Manual-wind]]
	[[Category:Daytona]]		[[Category:Daytona]]
	[[Category:Draft]]		[[Category:Working Draft]]

Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-29T03:22:59Z

SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:22, 29 April 2026
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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Daytona ~~6240 (1965–1969) First Oyster~~ — BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 6240 Daytona — Production, Dial Variants, Serial Ranges \| BezelBase
	\|description=The 6240 introduced the screw-down chronograph pushers and Oyster case to the Daytona line in 1965, raising water resistance to 100m. Includes the disputed Neanderthal prototype and Mk0 Millerighe pushers.		\|description=The 6240 introduced the screw-down chronograph pushers and Oyster case to the Daytona line in 1965, raising water resistance to 100m. Includes the disputed Neanderthal prototype and Mk0 Millerighe pushers.
	\|keywords=Rolex 6240, Daytona 6240, Neanderthal, Millerighe, Oyster Cosmograph, screw-down pushers, Perezcope, Phillips Daytona Ultimatum, Mk0		\|keywords=Rolex 6240, Daytona 6240, Neanderthal, Millerighe, Oyster Cosmograph, screw-down pushers, Perezcope, Phillips Daytona Ultimatum, Mk0
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:19:41Z		\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:19:41Z
	\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:36:~~13Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-04-29T02:50:21Z
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2026-04-29T02:50:21Z

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	\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:19:41Z		\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:19:41Z
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Admin: SEO: og:image + image_alt + og_type + timestamps

2026-04-29T02:36:13Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 02:36, 29 April 2026
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:19:41Z		\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:19:41Z
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Admin: Slop sweep: paragraph challenge + AI-tone scrub

2026-04-27T04:46:49Z

Slop sweep: paragraph challenge + AI-tone scrub

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:46, 27 April 2026
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	<small>[[Reference:daytona\|Daytona]] → '''6240'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:daytona\|Daytona]] -> '''6240'''</small>

	The 6240 is the first Oyster-cased Daytona and the first Rolex chronograph with screw-down pushers. It ran from 1965 to 1969 ~~as a transitional reference~~ between the pump-pusher 6239 and the long-running 6263, and it ~~carries~~ the ~~design decisions that defined~~ every Daytona ~~that followed: an~~ acrylic black bezel insert, a 100m~~-rated case~~, and the word "Oyster" ~~added to the dial~~ because the chronograph could ~~finally~~ claim it.		The 6240 is the first Oyster-cased Daytona and the first Rolex chronograph with screw-down pushers. It ran from 1965 to 1969, sitting between the pump-pusher 6239 and the long-running 6263, and it set the architecture every later Daytona inherited. An acrylic black bezel insert replaced the engraved metal tachymeter, the case earned 100m of water resistance, and the dial finally carried the word "Oyster" because the chronograph could now claim it.

	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>
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	The manual-wind Daytona references break cleanly into three groups by pusher type and bezel material. The 6239 (1963 to 1969) carries pump pushers and a metal bezel, the 6241 (1966 to 1969) carries pump pushers and an acrylic bezel, and the 6240 sits with the screw-down pushers that define the Oyster sub-family. The 6262 and 6264 (1970 to 1972) bridge into the higher-frequency 21,600 vph Valjoux 727 era, and the 6263 (1971 to 1988) carries the screw-down-pusher Oyster format for the long run.		The manual-wind Daytona references break cleanly into three groups by pusher type and bezel material. The 6239 (1963 to 1969) carries pump pushers and a metal bezel, the 6241 (1966 to 1969) carries pump pushers and an acrylic bezel, and the 6240 sits with the screw-down pushers that define the Oyster sub-family. The 6262 and 6264 (1970 to 1972) bridge into the higher-frequency 21,600 vph Valjoux 727 era, and the 6263 (1971 to 1988) carries the screw-down-pusher Oyster format for the long run.

	~~Read across the four-year window, the 6240 is the proof of concept.~~ Rolex ~~had~~ patented ~~its~~ screw-down chronograph pusher in 1964 (CH423638), and the 6240 was the first reference to put that patent into production. ~~Only after the 6240 demonstrated that the~~ construction ~~worked did Rolex commit to it as the standard for~~ the rest of the manual-wind ~~era,~~ first ~~with~~ the brief 6262 / 6264 detour back to pump pushers and ~~the~~ metal bezel, then permanently from the 6263 onward.		Rolex patented the screw-down chronograph pusher in 1964 (CH423638), and the 6240 was the first reference to put that patent into production. The construction held up, and the rest of the manual-wind line followed — first after the brief 6262 / 6264 detour back to pump pushers and a metal bezel, then permanently from the 6263 onward.

	<span id="production-outline"></span>		<span id="production-outline"></span>
	== Production outline ==		== Production outline ==

	Production ran from 1965 to 1969 across the 1.1-million to 2.0-million serial range, in parallel with the pump-pusher 6239 and (from 1966) the 6241. ~~Total production is undocumented in any~~ Rolex ~~source~~. The most often-cited working figure sits around 2,000 examples, which puts the 6240 at roughly one-tenth the volume of the 6239 across the same window. ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' and Pucci Papaleo's ''Ultimate Rolex Daytona'' are the two book-length references most likely to carry tighter ~~figures;~~ the 2,000-piece ~~estimate~~ should be read as a working ~~number, not~~ a settled ~~one~~.		Production ran from 1965 to 1969 across the 1.1-million to 2.0-million serial range, in parallel with the pump-pusher 6239 and (from 1966) the 6241. Rolex never published a total. The most often-cited working figure sits around 2,000 examples, which puts the 6240 at roughly one-tenth the volume of the 6239 across the same window. Colin A. White's ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' and Pucci Papaleo's ''Ultimate Rolex Daytona'' are the two book-length references most likely to carry tighter numbers, and the 2,000-piece figure should be read as a working estimate rather than a settled count.

	~~The reference covers two~~ broad production phases: the earliest Millerighe-pusher batch, ~~then~~ the standard cylindrical-pusher run that carries the watch to the end~~. That is the cleanest~~ production ~~split~~.		Two broad production phases run through the reference. The earliest is the Millerighe-pusher batch in the 1.1M to 1.3M serial band, followed by the standard cylindrical-pusher run that carries the watch through to the end of production.

	Paul Newman exotic dials begin appearing on Daytona production around the 1.5-million serial range, fitted across the 6239, 6240, and 6241 cases at roughly one in twenty examples ~~per period sources~~. The Neanderthal ~~lot~~ at the 2018 Phillips Daytona Ultimatum ~~sale (case 1439122)~~ sits in this band and ~~forms~~ the basis of the attribution dispute treated in Special branches ~~below~~.		Paul Newman exotic dials begin appearing on Daytona production around the 1.5-million serial range, fitted across the 6239, 6240, and 6241 cases at roughly one in twenty examples by the prevailing collector accounting. The Neanderthal (case 1439122), sold at the 2018 Phillips Daytona Ultimatum auction, sits inside this band and is the basis for the attribution dispute treated in Special branches.

	<span id="movement-notes"></span>		<span id="movement-notes"></span>
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	The 6240 runs on caliber 722-1 throughout, the second Rolex-stamped derivative of the Valjoux 72 ebauche, with column-wheel chronograph control, lateral clutch, tri-compax sub-dial layout, and a 17-jewel 18,000 vph beat rate. The architecture is the same Valjoux 72 base used across the entire manual-wind Daytona run; the 722-1 designation marks Rolex's intermediate finishing and bridge revisions before the 727 brought the frequency jump to 21,600 vph at the start of the 6262 / 6264 run in 1970.		The 6240 runs on caliber 722-1 throughout, the second Rolex-stamped derivative of the Valjoux 72 ebauche, with column-wheel chronograph control, lateral clutch, tri-compax sub-dial layout, and a 17-jewel 18,000 vph beat rate. The architecture is the same Valjoux 72 base used across the entire manual-wind Daytona run; the 722-1 designation marks Rolex's intermediate finishing and bridge revisions before the 727 brought the frequency jump to 21,600 vph at the start of the 6262 / 6264 run in 1970.

	~~The~~ 18,000 vph ~~rate is what every 6240 carries~~. ~~There is~~ no late-run frequency ~~progression on this reference~~; the faster movement waited for the 6262 generation. US-bound 722-1 examples carry an engraved "ROW" import code on the balance bridge, the same import marking documented on the 6241 and 6239 of the period.		Every 6240 runs at 18,000 vph. The reference saw no late-run frequency change; the faster movement waited for the 6262 generation. US-bound 722-1 examples carry an engraved "ROW" import code on the balance bridge, the same import marking documented on the 6241 and 6239 of the period.

	<span id="dial-map"></span>		<span id="dial-map"></span>
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	\|}		\|}

	The ~~6240 carries a~~ small ~~but important dial group~~. Standard Oyster Cosmograph dials dominate, Paul Newman ~~dials~~ are much scarcer, and the Solo dial stays a very small Italian-channel oddity.		The dial set is small. Standard Oyster Cosmograph dials dominate the run, Paul Newman exotics are much scarcer, and the Solo dial stays a very small Italian-channel oddity.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
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	=== The "Neanderthal" 6240 ===		=== The "Neanderthal" 6240 ===

	The ~~single~~ most contested 6240 is case 1439122, the Neanderthal. Phillips sold it as the earliest Paul Newman prototype. Perezcope later argued the dial was a much later construction. ~~That~~ dispute now ~~sits inside every~~ serious 6240 discussion.		The most contested 6240 is case 1439122, the Neanderthal. Phillips sold it as the earliest Paul Newman prototype, and Jose Pereztroika at Perezcope later argued the dial was a much later construction. The dispute is now central to any serious 6240 discussion.

	Perezcope's 2022 dossier is the strongest challenge to the old attribution. ~~His case is that~~ the famous dial ~~is not~~ an early factory prototype ~~at all~~, ~~but a later construction:~~ the same dial previously photographed in another watch~~, plus~~ typography, tritium text, minute-track color, and Singer-stamp details that ~~fit~~ later Paul Newman production ~~better~~ than the earliest 6240 story. The watch ~~still matters. What changed is~~ the ~~burden of proof. The~~ early-prototype explanation is no longer the default reading.		Perezcope's 2022 dossier is the strongest challenge to the old attribution. The dossier identifies the famous dial as a later construction rather than an early factory prototype, citing the same dial previously photographed in another watch and a set of typography, tritium-text, minute-track-color, and Singer-stamp details that align with later Paul Newman production rather than the earliest 6240 story. The watch retains its market position, but the early-prototype explanation is no longer the default reading.

	Perezcope reached out to Aurel Bacs and Pucci Papaleo with the findings; no public correction or buyer notification has been issued by either party as of the dossier's publication. The dispute remains live: Phillips's lot essay and Pucci Papaleo's published taxonomy treat the Neanderthal as the earliest Paul Newman 6240, and Perezcope's documented analysis treats the dial as a later swap onto an early case. The case-and-movement period-correctness of 1439122 is not contested; the dispute is dial-only.		Perezcope reached out to Aurel Bacs and Pucci Papaleo with the findings; no public correction or buyer notification has been issued by either party as of the dossier's publication. The dispute remains live: Phillips's lot essay and Pucci Papaleo's published taxonomy treat the Neanderthal as the earliest Paul Newman 6240, and Perezcope's documented analysis treats the dial as a later swap onto an early case. The case-and-movement period-correctness of 1439122 is not contested; the dispute is dial-only.
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	=== Tropical examples ===		=== Tropical examples ===

	Tropical 6240 dials, black dials that have aged to brown or chocolate, exist but ~~are scarcer~~ than tropical 6263 / 6265 examples ~~by virtue of~~ the smaller ~~production population~~. The browning is the same lacquer-instability mechanism documented ~~across the broader period:~~ dials ~~intended to be black where the~~ black pigment was unstable in the lacquer mix, ~~or where~~ light, heat, and humidity drove the colour change. Tropical examples carry significant premium ~~where~~ the case, movement, and pushers are all period-correct.		Tropical 6240 dials, black dials that have aged to brown or chocolate, exist but turn up less often than tropical 6263 / 6265 examples because the underlying production was smaller. The browning is the same lacquer-instability mechanism documented on other 1960s Rolex dials. The black pigment was unstable in the lacquer mix, and light, heat, and humidity drove the colour change over decades. Tropical examples carry significant premium when the case, movement, and pushers are all period-correct.

	<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>		<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>
	== Historical market and auction record ==		== Historical market and auction record ==

	The 6240 sits in the highest tier of vintage Daytona prices ~~because the~~ screw-down-pusher and acrylic-bezel combination is rare and the Neanderthal sale ~~pulled~~ the ~~whole~~ reference ~~upward in 2018~~.		The 6240 sits in the highest tier of vintage Daytona prices. The screw-down-pusher and acrylic-bezel combination is rare on its own, and the 2018 Neanderthal sale at Phillips lifted the rest of the reference along with it.

	Standard Cosmograph-dialled 6240s in good condition trade well below the Paul Newman tier but well above contemporary 6239s with comparable dials, reflecting the smaller production population and the Oyster-format premium. Mk0 Millerighe-pusher first-batch examples carry an additional premium where the pushers are documented as period-original. As with the rest of the manual-wind Daytona corpus, condition of the acrylic bezel insert, originality of the dial and pushers, and the presence of period-correct bracelet and clasp drive the spread between the high and low examples by an order of magnitude or more.		Standard Cosmograph-dialled 6240s in good condition trade well below the Paul Newman tier but well above contemporary 6239s with comparable dials, reflecting the smaller production population and the Oyster-format premium. Mk0 Millerighe-pusher first-batch examples carry an additional premium where the pushers are documented as period-original. As with the rest of the manual-wind Daytona corpus, condition of the acrylic bezel insert, originality of the dial and pushers, and the presence of period-correct bracelet and clasp drive the spread between the high and low examples by an order of magnitude or more.

Admin: Normalize Field Manual citation: ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra

2026-04-27T04:40:08Z

Normalize Field Manual citation: ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:40, 27 April 2026
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	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
	* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Morning Tundra		* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
	* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-daytona-chronograph-1963-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Daytona, The Emblematic Racing Chronograph] — Erik Slaven, Monochrome		* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-daytona-chronograph-1963-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Daytona, The Emblematic Racing Chronograph] — Erik Slaven, Monochrome
	* [https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/CH080318 Phillips — Daytona Ultimatum (Geneva, 12 May 2018)] — Pucci Papaleo (curator); Aurel Bacs (auctioneer), Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo		* [https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/CH080318 Phillips — Daytona Ultimatum (Geneva, 12 May 2018)] — Pucci Papaleo (curator); Aurel Bacs (auctioneer), Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo

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2026-04-27T04:03:22Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 04:03, 27 April 2026
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	\|keywords=Rolex 6240, Daytona 6240, Neanderthal, Millerighe, Oyster Cosmograph, screw-down pushers, Perezcope, Phillips Daytona Ultimatum, Mk0		\|keywords=Rolex 6240, Daytona 6240, Neanderthal, Millerighe, Oyster Cosmograph, screw-down pushers, Perezcope, Phillips Daytona Ultimatum, Mk0
	\|image=Ref 6240 hero.webp		\|image=Ref 6240 hero.webp
			\|image_alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 — Neanderthal example
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			\|published_time=2026-04-19T03:19:41Z
			\|modified_time=2026-04-24T21:28:22Z
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