Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman', Reference 6239 A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet Circa 1970 | 勞力士 | Daytona 'Paul Newman' 型號 6239 精鋼計時鍊帶腕錶，製作年份約 1970
Rolex
Daytona 'Paul Newman', Reference 6239
A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet
Circa 1970
勞力士
Daytona 'Paul Newman' 型號 6239 精鋼計時鍊帶腕錶，製作年份約 1970
Dial : black
Calibre : cal. 722-1 manual, 17 jewels
Case : stainless steel, screw-down case back
Case number : 2’390’620
Size : 37 mm diameter
Signed : case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories : Rolex polystyrene box, Rolex service guarantee and payment receipt, valuation document dated October 1996 with accompanying payment receiptRolex Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman', Reference 6239 A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet Circa 1970 | 勞力士 | Daytona 'Paul Newman' 型號 6239 精鋼計時鍊帶腕錶，製作年份約 1970
Daytona 'Paul Newman', Reference 6239 A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet Circa 1970 | 勞力士 | Daytona 'Paul Newman' 型號 6239 精鋼計時鍊帶腕錶，製作年份約 1970
VAT applies to hammer price and buyer's premium
Estimate:
100,000 - 200,000 CHF Lot sold:
189,000
CHF Rolex
Daytona 'Paul Newman', Reference 6239
A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet
Circa 1970
勞力士
Daytona 'Paul Newman' 型號 6239 精鋼計時鍊帶腕錶，製作年份約 1970
Dial : black
Calibre : cal. 722-1 manual, 17 jewels
Case : stainless steel, screw-down case back
Case number : 2’390’620
Size : 37 mm diameter
Signed : case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories : Rolex polystyrene box, Rolex service guarantee and payment receipt, valuation document dated October 1996 with accompanying payment receipt Condition report
MVT: running at the time of cataloging. Chronograph function operating
Case: in good condition. Surface scratching throughout consistent with age. Scratching to the bezel with some dings and denting to the edges at 2 o'clock and a smaller group at 10 o'clock. Prominent scratch to the back of the case. Surface scratching to the lugs, especially on the edge of the upper left lug. Flat dent on the upper right lug and smaller denting to the edges of the lower lugs. Some scratching to the crystal. Likely polished.
Dial: in good condition. Lume plots at 3 and 6 o'clock flattened. Lume plots reaction under UV light. Some dirt on the 5 o'clock index and minute hand. Some blemishes to the subdials and hands.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping. " Paul Newman Daytonas, as they are known by the community, are characterised by their Art Deco style dial type, officially known as an "exotic dial" and were rumored to appear in as few as 1 in 20 manual winding Daytona models, from the 1960's into the 1980's. These watches went unloved by the market for some years, until the late 1980's, when the term "Paul Newman" was coined by a group of Italian watch dealers and collectors, after Paul Newman was photographed on a number of occasions wearing his own ref 6239. Since then, the appetite and market for Paul Newmans has exploded in value.
Based on reference 6238 and first introduced to the American market in 1963, reference 6239 was the first Daytona reference to include the ‘Cosmograph’ dial designation. A major design change from the 6238 was the placement of the Tachymeter scale (used for measuring distance over time) on the bezel, increasing the watches diameter by 1mm. This design change allowed for more varied and intricate dial designs, evidenced by the ‘exotic’ dial configurations. Coming in either a 2-coloured dial in white or black or a 3-coloured dial in white or black with red accents, these Singer manufactured dials are immediately recognisable as being some of the most iconic designs ever produced.
The dial of the present reference 6239 is a standout example of these exotic designs, with a so-called ‘musketeer’ dial, these have a sloped edge to the subsidiary dials, as opposed to a step with a concentric pattern throughout. ‘Musketeers’ are typically found on later pump pusher references such as the 6262 and 6264. These models were in production at the same time as the back of 6239 production in 1969/1970, this “musketeer” dial was likely added to the present watch due to this overlap.
The watch comes to us from the original owner who was gifted the watch by his father in 1970, he wore it on his wedding day as pictured and then seldom after. He had the watch serviced by Rolex in London in 1996 and was valued for insurance purposes by UK authorized dealer Ernest Jones as “a collectible Paul Newman Model” at a value of £8,750. Since then the watch has sat in the safe.
All in all, the present lot provides a great opportunity to acquire an essential piece in any watch collection with added rarity through its unusual dial type and strong provenance.
