Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1969 Reference No: 6239 Case No: 1'781'949 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 727, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, reference 7205, end links stamped 60, max length 195mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped 3.69 Dimensions: 36.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet Accessories: Accompanied by Tiffany & Co. letter confirming the present watch was sold by the Tiffany & Co. boutique in New York in April 1969, a copy of Ultimate Rolex Daytona by Pucci Papaleo with the present watch on the cover and Rolex presentation box. Literature: The present watch is prominently illustrated in Ultimate Rolex Daytona by Pucci Papaleo, pp. 180 to 183.
Catalogue Essay
Reference 6239 was the very first model within the iconic Cosmograph Daytona family, and was produced from approximately 1963 until 1976. Available in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm’s first chronograph with the tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel. The model was originally announced as the "Le Mans". It was eventually named the "Daytona” after the 24 Hours of Daytona automobile race.
Some of the rarest, most historically important and valuable Rolex wristwatches have been sold through the American retailer Tiffany & Co. The present watch featuring not only the jeweler's signature but also a "Paul Newman" dial, is an extraordinarily rare specimen. To date no more than a handful of correct examples have appeared on the market. Few retailers have had a relationship with Rolex like Tiffany & Co. has. The jeweler has proudly emblazoned its logo on a variety of Rolex wristwatches, ranging from the GMT-Master to the Cosmograph Daytona.
Historically, the storied boutique has been the destination for collectors in pursuit of the finest and most attractive wristwatches. Furthermore, Tiffany & Co. has been mentioned numerous times in popular culture, ranging from literature to film. Joanne Woodward no less purchased the now record-breaking reference 6239 wristwatch with "exotic" dial from the retailer for her husband Paul Newman.
Prominently featured in Ultimate Rolex Daytona by Pucci Papaleo, the present watch has resided in a private collection for many years. It most notably displays a black dial with "T Swiss T" printed in slanted script - a common feature of reference 6239 Paul Newman dials. At the time of production, retailers brought the dials to a third party to stamp them. The precise and fine details on this example, such as the serifs on the edge of each letter are remarkable and unmistakably correct.
Most impressively and importantly, this watch is accompanied by a letter dated June 9, 2008 from Tiffany & Co confirming that the present watch was sold by the Tiffany & Co. boutique in New York in April 1969.
Forever immortalized in literature, the rarity and honesty of the present watch combined with its good looks, renders it one of the most exciting and beautiful examples of reference 6239s to ever appear in the public eye.
Founded 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.