Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT Hong Kong Monday, May 27, 2019 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1968
    Reference No: 6241
    Case No: 1'767'421
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona "Paul Newman"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal 722-1, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster riveted bracelet stamped 57 to the endlinks, max length 190mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped 1.72
    Dimensions: 37mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    As it was preeminently designed for sportsmen, the main requisite of the Daytona was high legibility. Nevertheless, Rolex produced a series of “exotic” dials featuring a more flamboyant look, with a contrasting outer track, red fifth of a second divisions (at least on early examples) and square numerals on the subsidiary counters. While aesthetically extremely appealing, the legibility was not the strongest suit of this iteration. It was in fact poorly received by the market and soon discontinued at the beginning of the 1970s. However, the model happens to have been gifted to famed actor Paul Newman by his wife Joanne Woodward. Newman wore it consistently over the following ten years, which later prompted Italian collectors to nickname the model indeed “Paul Newman”.

    Now considered as one of the most important Rolex Daytona iterations in virtue of its striking good looks and rarity, Paul Newman pieces are arguably the most coveted and desired vintage sports watches of all time.

    The present example was recently re-discovered in Italy, after having spent the last 25 years in the safety of a bank vault in Milano. It is offered in extremely honest condition, impressing the beholder with its well preserved dial fully retaining original luminous accents and with absolutely intact graphics. Given the amount of interest for this model in the market, such discoveries are destined to become increasingly rare, making this an unmissable opportunity for collectors of important vintage sport’s timepieces.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

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1183

Ref. 6241
A fine and very rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with "Paul Newman" dial and bracelet

Circa 1968
37mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$950,000 - 1,750,000 
€107,000-197,000
$122,000-224,000

Sold for HK$1,500,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
thomasperazzi@phillips.com
+852 2318 2001

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT

Hong Kong Auction 28 May 2019