1007
Rolex
Ref. 6239
Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman”
勞力士，「Cosmograph Daytona」型號6239，罕有，精鋼計時鏈帶腕錶，備「Paul Newman」錶盤，約1969年製
完整圖錄內容
A quintessential “Paul Newman” Daytona, this example perfectly embodies the Hollywood legend. It was during the filming of “Winning” that Paul Newman fell in love with racing. His wife, Joanne Woodward, consequently gifted this exact Daytona variant to her husband, inscribed with phrase “DRIVE CAREFULLY ME”. It is thanks to this particular design that exotic-dialed Cosmographs are now synonymous with the philanthropic icon.
Making its important debut in 1963, the ref. 6239 was the very first reference to feature “Daytona” on the dial and was also the very first chronograph by the firm to have an engraved tachymeter scale on the bezel instead of the dial. Produced mainly in stainless steel, the reference was also made in 14K and 18K yellow gold. Originally named as the "Le Mans", it was eventually named the "Daytona” after the 24 Hours of Daytona automobile race - a choice possibly also motivated by marketing reason, the USA being at the time a fast-growing market for the company.
While it was released with either a silver or a black dial, dial supplier Singer made a small batch of what was referred to as “exotic dials” and later known more commonly as “Paul Newman” dials. These rare and exotic dials featured an art-deco inspired graphic and typography compared to regular examples. It is believed that only between 1,000 – 1,500 examples of pump pusher references including 6239, 6241 and 6262 were produced with “Paul Newman” dials. Furthermore, differing from earlier examples of the reference, examples from 1967 – 1969 featured the updated cal. 722-1, such as the present wristwatch.
Bearing the same configuration as Paul Newman’s timepiece, the present example dates back to circa 1969 with a 1.98 million serial. Sparking memories of the Newman phenomenon, this model is one of the most iconic Daytonas ever produced.
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.