Today, the Rolex Daytona is one of the most cherished and beloved of all the collectible vintage wristwatches. It has had a long and storied past that has been both well documented and celebrated over the last decade. From in-depth studies of dials, calibers, chronograph pushers and archives, watch enthusiast have created a public record of the history of the Daytona and Rolex itself. In a sense, collectors and researchers have gotten into the mind of the company, and seen how the model evolved and transitioned over the years, from the early “pre-Daytona” chronographs of the 1950s and early 60s, to the first fully recognized Daytona, following Rolex’s sponsorship of the 24-Hours Daytona automobile race, the reference 6239, and finally to the modern chronographs that keep to their traditional past. The Daytona was and is a watch that was appreciated for its classic rugged appeal and a timepiece anyone could wear. Add to this legendary history the famed “Paul Newman” dial and the Daytona becomes even more rarified.

The reference 6241 is a rare example within the Daytona family with production between 1966 and 1969. Research indicates that approximately 2000 examples were made in stainless steel, 300 in 18k yellow gold and 400 in 14k gold. The model replaced the reference 6239 and featured a black acrylic tachometer instead of the engraved bezel of the earlier reference. The case was redesigned and made slightly wider at the 3 to accommodate the crown in order to make the watch easier to wind. The reference 6241 was the first reference to include the wording “Daytona” on the dial.

This exceptionally example from 1969 has a well-proportioned case with strongly defined lugs and a lovely "Paul Newman" dial. Fresh to the market and from the family of the original owner, this watch is the ultimate trophy watch for all Daytona collectors.