The most unattainable and sought-after variant of all Paul Newman wristwatches is unequivocally the “Oyster Sotto Paul Newman”. Scholars estimate that less than 25 examples have appeared, and no more than a handful have been sold at auction thus far.

The moniker “Oyster Sotto”, meaning “Oyster Underneath” in Italian, signifies the correct dial configuration of a ref. 6263 “Paul Newman” fitted with three-color black dial, also known as “RCO” - “Rolex Cosmograph Oyster” rather than “Rolex Oyster Cosmograph”, the latter of which is the correct configuration of a “Paul Newman” with white dial. The black “Oyster Sottos” are the rarest among all Paul Newmans ever produced.

It is interesting to note that "Oyster Sotto" dials were fitted to the earliest ref. 6263s, which newly featured waterproof screw down pushers. The dials were originally fitted to non-waterproof references 6262 or 6264, which bore "Rolex Cosmograph" only. The "Oyster" designation was thus later added to the dial, to denote ref. 6263’s waterproof ability. Hence, the "Oyster" print does not display any serifs and looks unusual compared to the "Rolex Cosmograph" font.

To the best of our knowledge, the present black “Oyster Sotto” from 1969 is characteristic of the rarer Mk 2 variant, bearing a serial number of 2’197’835. The Mk 2 dial features a slightly elongated "tail" to the "R" in Rolex. The dial remains in excellent condition, with luminous dots intact and round. Vibrant colors and sharp graphics give the dial a striking, captivating presence. Its superb state of preservation makes this a phenomenal example. Other correct features of this watch are the first generation "Millerighe" screw-down pushers and the Mk 1 bezel.

Beautifully preserved, it is not an overstatement to say that the present specimen is a true “Crown Jewel” for all collectors of highly important timepieces.