Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: XV Geneva Saturday, May 7, 2022 | Phillips

The Geneva Watch Auction: XV

Geneva Auction 7 - 8 May 2022

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    • Manufacturer: Rolex
      Year: Circa 1969
      Reference No: 6241
      Case No: 2'084'363
      Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman "John Player Special"
      Material: 14K yellow gold
      Calibre: Manual, cal. 722-1, 17 jewels
      Bracelet/Strap: Leather
      Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex buckle
      Dimensions: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
      Signed: 37.5mm Diameter

    • Catalogue Essay

      Please note, this Lot is a Premium Lot. To bid on the Lot you must complete and satisfy our Premium Lot pre-registration procedure no later than 24 hours before the start of the Auction session in which it is offered. Please contact the Department for details

      One of the most intriguing aspects of collecting vintage Rolex Daytona timepieces is the remarkable amount of aesthetic variety the line has to offer: one can find “standard” models and bejeweled models. Among the standard models, one can find the simple two color scheme dial in different variations (black, white, double Swiss, underline, small Daytona, Big Red, tropical registers….) and the Paul Newman dial also varies according to model, metal and year of production (three color, two color, Panda, champagne, Sotto….).

      Reference 6241 was manufactured from approximately 1966 to 1969. It is among the rarest Daytona models ever produced. Research indicates that less than 300 examples were cased in yellow gold. A so-called “John Player Special”, the present watch is an exceedingly rare variant of the “Paul Newman” model, and one of the most exclusive models in the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona family.

      In 1972, John Player & Sons sponsored the Lotus Formula One team, which emblazoned the cigarette maker’s logo on its cars. Clad in black and gold livery to match John Player & Sons’ corporate colors, the Formula One car became an instant hit and icon. Donning the same colors, the “John Player Special Paul Newman” shares its name with the racing vehicle. While the watch was conceived some years before the car and has no relation to the sporting event, the similarities between the two are absolutely uncanny, from the contrasting black and gold graphics, to the intricate trim and details. While beauty is inherently subjective, few - if any - collectors will disagree with the statement that among such a variety of options, one of the most visually striking iterations of the Daytona is the one exemplified by the present timepiece.

      The present watch is distinguished by its exceptional state of preservation. The dial itself is astounding. Free of imperfections, it features round and complete luminous dots that are consistent in color, even when viewed under the telling rays of a black ultraviolet light. The hands furthermore match the numerals, and both display warm yellow patina. The case, too, is preserved in excellent condition with deep hallmarks beneath the lugs. The correct tells and rarity of the present watch renders it one of the most exciting, astonishing and beautiful examples to come to the auction market in recent years.

    • 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.

      View More Works

Please note, this Lot is a Premium Lot. To bid on the Lot you must complete and satisfy our Premium Lot pre-registration procedure no later than 24 hours before the start of the Auction session in which it is offered. Please contact the Department for details

✱119

Rolex

Ref. 6241
A very rare and attractive 14K yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with black "Paul Newman" dial

Circa 1969
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
37.5mm Diameter

Full Cataloguing

Estimate
CHF700,000 - 1,400,000 
€688,000-1,380,000
$743,000-1,490,000

Sold for CHF852,800

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

+41 22 317 81 81
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 22 317 96 63
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XV

Geneva Auction 7 - 8 May 2022