Ref. 6263, stamped inside caseback 6239An extremely rare and highly attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with ‘tropical’ Paul Newman dial, tachometer bezel, outer red 1/5 seconds division track and bracelet.
Manufacturer: Rolex
Year: 1969
Reference No: 6263, stamped inside caseback 6239
Case No: 2’085’563
Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman Oyster Sotto”
Material: Stainless steel
Calibre: Manual, cal. Valjoux 727, 17 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Rolex stainless steel Oyster, reference 7835, end links stamped 71N, max. length 200mm
Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel folding deployant clasp, stamped 4.61
Dimensions: 37.5mm diameter
Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Literature: This watch is illustrated in Pucci Papaleo’s Ultimate Rolex Daytona, pg. 606. For a similar example see 100 Superlative Rolex Watches, John Goldberger, pg. 260-261, or Pucci Papaleo’s I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, pg. 310, 311.The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman “Oyster Sotto” is, without any doubt, a dream watch for collectors around the world except for special orders and unique pieces. Of all the different variants, styles, and configurations of Rolex’s iconic Daytona model, the Oyster Sotto is the pinnacle, positioned at the very top of the hierarchical tree in terms of prestige and desirability, but also rarity.
Formerly a highlight of one of the world’s most important private collections, this reference 6263 offered here is one of only two such known Tropical “Oyster Sotto”, having aged to a gorgeous and uniform shade of chocolate brown. With this unique and absolutely stunning dial, the present lot therefore can be considered one of, if not, the world’s most important Rolex Paul Newman Daytona ever offered for auction.
The charming Italian nickname of “Oyster Sotto” for the dial translates literally to “Oyster Underneath”, and was bestowed this name by collectors due to the placement of the “Oyster” designation beneath the word “Cosmograph” at 12 o’clock. These are the very first Paul Newman-style dials made for Oyster-cased Daytonas, whose screw-down pushers permitted greater water resistance compared with the pump pushers of earlier generation models.
Recognizable by the art-deco style Arabic numerals and squared markers found in the subsidiary dials, only very few examples of this rare Oyster Sotto configuration of the Paul Newman-type dial are known to exist. All of those that have appeared on reference 6263 models bear low serial numbers in the 2 million range – the earliest examples of the reference. It’s fitted with the correct “millerighe”, meaning a thousand lines, Mark 1.5 screw-down pushers.
The dial’s lovely shade of dark brown provides superb contrast with the white outer rim which itself emphasizes the coveted red minute track along the outer circumference of the dial. The bold red “Daytona” logo above the chronograph’s hour-counter at 6 o’clock complements the red outer track perfectly, matching perfectly the “T SWISS T” designation at the dial’s very bottom edge. Manufactured in 1969, the case shows few signs of wear, illustrating how well it was taken care of over the course of its nearly 50 year life.
This watch with its extreme rarity, spectacular dial, and outstanding overall condition is worthy of “crowning” the next collection it enters as the ultimate trophy for enthusiasts of vintage Rolex Daytonas.
