31
Rolex
Ref. 6241
Cosmograph Daytona “John Player Special”
An immensely well-preserved and extremely attractive 14K yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, Paul Newman exotic "John Player Special" dial, and presentation boxes
Full-Cataloguing
• Superb, flawless dial and well-preserved case condition
• John Player Special “exotic” Paul Newman dial fitted to very few 14K yellow gold Rolex Daytonas
• Fresh to the auction market
Nicknamed "John Player Special", the present watch is an exceedingly rare variant of the “Paul Newman” model. The origin of the name dates to 1972, when John Player & Sons sponsored the Lotus Formula One team, which emblazoned the cigarette maker’s logo on its cars. Clad in black and gold livery to match John Player & Sons’ corporate colors, the Lotus automobile became an instant icon. Today, the automobile is considered amongst the most attractive and elegant race cars ever designed.
Requisites for tool watches were durability, accuracy, and legibility; thus in its early days the chronograph was encased predominantly in stainless steel, while a gold case with its hefty weight and soft material went against the concept of a durable professional timepiece.
The reference 6241 was manufactured from approximately 1966 to 1969 and remains amongst the rarest of all Daytona models ever produced. 14K examples are particularly rare, as they were offered to North American buyers in order to save on import duties on gold. Research indicates fewer than 300 examples were cased in either 18K or 14K yellow gold, and with the “John Player Special” “Paul Newman” model, even fewer are known. Most fall into the 2’084’XXX serial number range, dating to 1969, and the present example falls right in the middle of known examples.
Never offered publicly, the present John Player Special is a top quality example in outstanding overall condition. The dial is stunning, astoundingly well-preserved, and free of imperfections. It features round and complete luminous dots that have aged to a warm yellowish hue, matching the hands. The lovely state of preservation and rarity of this model renders it one of the most exciting and beautiful examples of the reference 6241 to be offered at auction.
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.