Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1969 Reference No: 6239 Case No: 1'997'758 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona "Paul Newman" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 722-1, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel riveted Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 185mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp Dimensions: 36.5mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 30th September 1970, multiple service documents and presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Being one of the most iconic timepieces ever launched by Rolex, the Daytona was officially born in the early 1960s, marking a new era of sports chronograph wristwatches. The first reference to bear the “DAYTONA” signature was the ref. 6239. Featuring for the first time a tachymeter inscribed on the bezel instead of the dial like its previous “Pre-Daytona” models, the Daytona certainly exuberated a refreshed appeal for Rolex chronographs.
Around the same period, some rare reference variations were introduced with a different dial design from the ones produced by Rolex. Dial supplier Singer created these exotic dials. Extremely rare, these exotic dials at the time of its launch were not popular among collectors. Hence, the production of these dials was extremely scarce. Spotted on the wrist of Hollywood giant and esteemed racing driver Paul Newman in an Italian magazine was a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239 with a rare Singer-made dial in white. Noticed by collectors, these dials were later nicknamed after the famed Hollywood actor, “Paul Newman” dial.
The present example is a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239 “Paul Newman” that features the rare and elusive dial in black. From circa 1969 with a 1.9 million serial, the present example is indeed one of the later examples of the reference before it was discontinued. Offered in attractive overall condition with a nice and original dial with nice lumes, it is also accompanied by its rare original guarantee with its original case back sticker intact. Highly attractive and very rare, this present example will surely garner interest from esteemed vintage Rolex collectors from around the world.
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.