Property of the Family of the Original Owner
1073
Rolex
Ref. 6239
Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman”
An extremely rare, well-preserved, fresh-to-the-market and highly attractive yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne “Paul Newman” dial
- Estimate
- HK$2,000,000 - 4,000,000€221,000 - 442,000$256,000 - 513,000
HK$3,302,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1968
- Reference No
- 6239
- Case No
- 1’757’931, "6239" repeated inside caseback
- Model Name
- Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman”
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 722-1, 17 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Gold-plated Rolex pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 37mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed, caseback further engraved “26.9.69 – Jost”
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
With reference 6239, Rolex launched what is arguably its most iconic, successful, and collectible watch family: the Cosmograph Daytona. Initially introduced in the USA in 1963, it made its European debut the following year. The choice of the American market was influenced by its close ties to car racing, and the name "Daytona" was selected for its American associations, replacing the originally intended "Le Mans".
Gold cases were uber rarely used for reference 6239. During its production run, only about 300 examples were made in yellow gold, a strikingly low number considering the model's total production of approximately 14,000 units. This limited availability can be attributed to the model’s design as a tool watch, primarily sought after in sturdy and lightweight stainless steel.
Featuring a champagne dial with gold graphics set within the sunken subsidiary registers, this timepiece was among the most luxurious Cosmographs available in the late 1960s. Glamorous and eye-catching, it exemplifies yet another variant of the beloved "Paul Newman" model.
The dial is particularly impressive, with the champagne surface aging gracefully and showing minimal signs of wear. Although the luminous material has been reapplied during a previous Rolex service, the watch remains in remarkable condition, with the vinyl pattern on the registers still crisp. The case is also well-preserved, with some oxidation marks noted near the lower pusher due to limited wrist time and careful storage. Two clear hallmarks are visible beneath the lugs.
Notably, this watch is fresh-to-the-market and comes from the family of the original owner, who likely received it in September 1969, as indicated by the caseback engraving “26.9.69 – Jost”. It has been well-maintained within the family and carefully serviced over the years, as evidenced by service engraving marks inside the caseback. This watch is also just 10 case numbers away from another example Phillips auctioned in the Racing Pulse auction in December 2020, featuring another very well-preserved example which achieved an impressive USD 529,200.
Given its provenance, rarity, and outstanding condition, this timepiece will undoubtedly spark conversations among vintage Rolex enthusiasts and will stand as a significant statement piece in the history of the Daytona.
Gold cases were uber rarely used for reference 6239. During its production run, only about 300 examples were made in yellow gold, a strikingly low number considering the model's total production of approximately 14,000 units. This limited availability can be attributed to the model’s design as a tool watch, primarily sought after in sturdy and lightweight stainless steel.
Featuring a champagne dial with gold graphics set within the sunken subsidiary registers, this timepiece was among the most luxurious Cosmographs available in the late 1960s. Glamorous and eye-catching, it exemplifies yet another variant of the beloved "Paul Newman" model.
The dial is particularly impressive, with the champagne surface aging gracefully and showing minimal signs of wear. Although the luminous material has been reapplied during a previous Rolex service, the watch remains in remarkable condition, with the vinyl pattern on the registers still crisp. The case is also well-preserved, with some oxidation marks noted near the lower pusher due to limited wrist time and careful storage. Two clear hallmarks are visible beneath the lugs.
Notably, this watch is fresh-to-the-market and comes from the family of the original owner, who likely received it in September 1969, as indicated by the caseback engraving “26.9.69 – Jost”. It has been well-maintained within the family and carefully serviced over the years, as evidenced by service engraving marks inside the caseback. This watch is also just 10 case numbers away from another example Phillips auctioned in the Racing Pulse auction in December 2020, featuring another very well-preserved example which achieved an impressive USD 529,200.
Given its provenance, rarity, and outstanding condition, this timepiece will undoubtedly spark conversations among vintage Rolex enthusiasts and will stand as a significant statement piece in the history of the Daytona.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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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