Rolex - Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR Geneva Friday, November 11, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1968
    Reference No: 6239
    Case No: 1'874'305
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona, "Linz Paul Newman"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 722, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex riveted Oyster bracelet, endlinks stamped 71, max. length 205mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Folding deployant clasp, stamped 4.63
    Dimensions: 36.5mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Literature: The present watch is prominently illustrated in Ultimate Rolex Daytona, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pg. 176-179

  • Catalogue Essay

    Superbly rare and stunning, the present Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, reference 6239, is fitted with an extraordinary and exclusive retailer-signed ‘Paul Newman’ dial. Bearing the Linz signature, this Texas based retailer was founded in 1877, and grew as a result of the contribution of five brothers. Delightfully nicknamed the ‘Linz Paul Newman’, the present Rolex Cosmograph was made in 1968 and is one of the rarest reference 6239s known to exist. The firm’s co-founder Joseph Linz retired in 1907, prompting the remaining family members to change the company name from Linz to Linz Brothers.
    Their unforgettable logo, with the letter N printed backwards, adds an interesting element to the dial that makes it extremely desireable to collectors. As a result, this wristwatch is an ultra rare member of the revered Rolex Daytona family of watches, and only an elite few are able to proudly say this watch has graced their collection. The grené off-white Paul Newman tri-color dial combined with the black subsidiary dials creates a color scheme that truly is as good as it gets, with the bright red ‘Daytona’ text at 6 o’clock and the red outer seconds scale. Its desirability is further enhanced by its overall excellent condition.
    Since leaving the Linz retail store, the present watch has continued to be cherished in the most esteemed private collections in the world. Illustrating its importance, the widely acclaimed Daytona authority, Pucci Papaleo, chose this very watch to be prominently featured in his historical tome, “Ultimate Rolex Daytona”. For the enthusiast who cherishes history and extreme rarity, this piece is an heirloom that echoes the legacies of both a family-owned retailer and superior craftsmanship by Rolex.

  • 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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170

Ref. 6239
An extremely rare and highly attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with off-white dial, tachymeter bezel and bracelet, retailed by Linz Brothers, Dallas

1968
36.5mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF200,000 - 400,000 
€184,000-367,000
$206,000-412,000

Sold for CHF874,000

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR

Geneva Auctions 12 – 13 November 2016