22
Rolex
Ref. 6239
Cosmograph Daytona "Paul Newman Musketeer"
An attractive, very unusual and extremely sought-after stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with Paul Newman "Musketeer" dial, bracelet and guarantee
Full-Cataloguing
- Chronograph with "Paul Newman" dial
- Displays rare "Musketeer" dial
- Preserved in beautiful condition and accompanied by original guarantee
Please see the Archivio Pucci Papaleo digital archive record here.
Reference 6239 was the very first model within the iconic Cosmograph Daytona family and was produced from approximately 1963 until 1970. Available in stainless steel, 14k and 18k gold, ref. 6239 was Rolex's first chronograph with the tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel. The model was originally announced as the "Le Mans". It was eventually named the "Daytona” after the 24 Hours of Daytona automobile race.
A superbly collectible example of reference 6239 with a black "Paul Newman" dial, this watch sports a remarkable detail. It features one of rarest and most collectible declinations of the “Paul Newman” dial: the so-called “Musketeer” variation. Usually, Paul Newman dials have a concentric circle pattern (azurage) all the way to the edge of the sunken subdials, which present vertical “walls” . However, on Musketeer dials the azurage covers only two-third of the dials; the remaining outer sector is smooth and gently slopes up to the main dial surface: a completely different design than the standard one. The present dial is preserved in outstanding condition with round luminous dots that are intact and have aged with light patina. The outer track has barely any signs of ageing as well which is very rare for this dial variant. The dots are furthermore round and intact. All graphics are intact and vibrant.
Furthermore, the case is incredibly sharp and crisp, and preserved in impressive condition with crisp finishes on the top of the lugs and good definition to the bezel. Such well-preserved examples very rarely appear on the market and there is no telling when another example in such condition will appear again.
As an even nicer touch, it is accompanied by its original guarantee, adding another layer of collectibility.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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.