Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: XX Geneva Saturday, November 9, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1970
    Reference No: 6264
    Case No: 2’357’409
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona "Paul Newman Lemon"
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 727, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 180mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 37.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated February 18, 1974 and stamped Brunati and two additional links.

  • Catalogue Essay

    While any vintage Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a “Paul Newman” dial can be considered a trophy watch for a collector, when one is found bearing a “Paul Newman Lemon” dial, it becomes an ultimate trophy due to its utmost rarity and attractiveness.

    To be considered a “Lemon” Paul Newman, the main dial must have a matte-finished, grené texture with an almost powdery effect with a more cream yellow color than a metallic gold or champagne. Compared with the dial on the champagne Paul Newman Daytonas, the “Lemon” dials feature an intense and creamy shade of yellow that sets them apart. Furthermore, instead of the more commonly-found champagne text within the subsidiary registers, they have vivid, white-printed Art Deco numerals – a coveted characteristic immediately spotted by those who know. Overall, the combination of the creamy yellow dial and stark, white sub-dial numerals is quite striking – especially when paired with a black outer track.

    The present timepiece is possibly one of the best preserved reference 6264s with “Lemon Paul Newman” dial to come to the market. Not only is the case incredibly well preserved, with a very thick case displaying sharp facets and edges throughout, the dial is a sight to behold. The dial is striking not just thanks to its excellent state of preservation but especially thanks to the fact that the subdials are turning to a dark brown and the outer track has turned to a seductive light brown giving the watch incredible charisma. The luminous dots remain round, intact and have aged with warm patina, perfectly complementing the striking dial.

    Making the present timepiece even more desirable is the presence of its original guarantee, stating the watch was sold on February 18, 1974 and stamped Brunati - a retailer at Zurich that does not exist anymore today. The present watch is thus one of probably less than a handful of examples that still retain original guarantee, making it even more collectible than its peers.

    Most of the existing 18K yellow gold “Paul Newman” Daytonas with “Lemon” dial fall within a known serial range, meaning that they were produced within a special batch. To date, the list of Reference 6264 Paul Newmans with Lemon dials include the following serial numbers (please note this is not an exhaustive list):

    2'357'384
    2'357'385
    2’357’409 (the present watch)
    2'357'419
    2'357'421
    2’357’442
    2'357'452
    2’357’455
    2'357'468
    2’357’479

    Given the fact that the Cosmograph Daytona was originally a commercially produced “tool watch” made for everyday use, the fact that less than a dozen of examples are known with this dial speaks volumes about the rarity of the model.

    A grail among grails, the present reference 6264 “Paul Newman Lemon” with tropical dial offers a perfect storm of highly appealing traits which propels the present timepiece to the pinnacle of desirability for the connoisseur of highly important and attractive timepieces. It presents a rare opportunity to acquire not only a trophy piece, but one of the very best examples in that category.

  • 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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Ref. 6264
An extraordinarily rare, extremely attractive, and important yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with “Paul Newman Lemon” dial, brown “tropical” subsidiary registers and outer track, bracelet and guarantee

Circa 1970
37.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF800,000 - 1,600,000 
€851,000-1,700,000
$930,000-1,860,000

Sold for CHF2,480,000

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88

tto@phillips.com

 

 

The Geneva Watch Auction: XX

Geneva Auction 9 - 10 November 2024