Of the 14,000 reference 6239s produced beginning in 1963 until 1969, only approximately 300 were cased in 18K yellow gold. And of those 300, only the barest handful were fitted with the luxurious, audacious black Paul Newman “John Player Special” dial. The present example is one of those, having been serviced and authenticated by Rolex Geneva’s own Atelier de Restauration in 2021, with only its movement serviced. It remains preserved in stunning condition, with a flawless dial and impressively proportioned case and bracelet.

While it is most common to see the JPS dial fitted to the acrylic bezel reference 6241, it is even rarer – though not unheard of – to see it fitted to the metal bezel reference 6239. When paired with an ultra-luxurious 18K yellow gold Oyster bracelet, the effect is unparalleled. Fitted with the extremely coveted “Paul Newman John Player Special” dial, the combination is unquestionably striking.

Though serviced by Rolex, the service invoice included with the watch gives explicit instructions not to restore the case, bracelet, or dial. Of all the interventions that could have taken place, only the movement was serviced and the crystal replaced. The dial retains the correct “T-SWISS-T” “sing-a-song” variant, and the bezel is a slightly later, Mark 2 200 UPH from the mid 1970s.

The combination of the gold bezel and gold bracelet is quite an alluring one, and the wrist presence it provides unrivaled. We are thrilled to present this reference 6239 with black Paul Newman “John Player Special” dial from the collection of an international connoisseur.