Rolex - The New York Watch Auction: XI New York Saturday, December 7, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1969
    Reference No: 6241; repeated on inside caseback
    Case No: 1’764’831
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman”
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 722-1, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped "7835", end links stamped "71N", max length 190mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped “2 68”
    Dimensions: 37mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Rolex Daytona chronograph stands among the most iconic timepieces ever created. Since its debut in 1963 with reference 6239, the model has evolved gracefully over the past five decades, becoming a true grail watch for collectors. Produced between 1966 and 1969, the reference 6241 is estimated to have had a production run of no more than 3,000 pieces, with only a fraction fitted with the now-legendary "Paul Newman" dial. Offered in stainless steel, as well as 14-karat and 18-karat gold, the 6241 was the first Daytona to feature a black acrylic bezel, providing a striking alternative to the steel bezel of the earlier reference 6239.

    Originally dubbed the "exotic" dial by Rolex, what we now know as the "Paul Newman" dial was not initially well-received, leading to its discontinuation in the early 1970s. Today, however, Paul Newman Daytonas are not just the most coveted vintage chronographs among Rolex enthusiasts—they are legendary. This reputation was cemented when Paul Newman's personal 6239 Daytona, fitted with the famous dial, fetched a record-breaking $17.8 million at Phillips’ Winning Icons auction in New York in October 2017.

    Fresh to the market, the present watch is offered on behalf of the family of the original owner from South America. The watch was obtained by the present consignor’s father during a trip to Switzerland, and it spent decades in an office desk drawer, forgotten, until being unearthed a few short years ago. Its appearance at auction marks a rare opportunity to own not just an original, distinguished, and highly sought-after chronograph, but also a timeless piece of Rolex history.

    PROPERTY OF THE FAMILY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER

  • 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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125

Ref. 6241; repeated on inside caseback
A highly rare and attractive stainless steel chronograph with "Paul Newman" dial and bracelet

Circa 1969
37mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed.

Estimate
$160,000 - 320,000 
CHF141,000-281,000
€150,000-300,000
HK$1,240,000-2,490,000

Sold for $266,700

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Americas
+1 (212) 940-1293
watchesny@phillips.com

Isabella Proia
Head of Sale, New York
+1 (212) 940 1285
iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: XI

New York Auction 7 - 8 December 2024