Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1969 Reference No: 6239 Case No: 2'004'648 Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona "Paul Newman" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 722-1, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel riveted Oyster bracelet, endlinks stamped 60, measuring 190mm max. Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp Dimensions: 36.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Catalogue Essay
The “Paul Newman” Daytona par excellence, the reference 6239 is the watch that Paul Newman wore and that subsequently gave the name to all Rolex Daytona Cosmographs with Exotic dials as they were officially called by Rolex at the time.
Reference 6239, introduced in 1963, was the very first Cosmograph Daytona model in Rolex’s collection. The red “Daytona” text was not displayed on the earliest models as Rolex initially marketed the reference as the “Le Mans” before settling on “Daytona,” which would start appearing on the dials shortly after the change. Available in stainless steel, 14K, and 18K gold, the 6239 was the first chronograph by the historic manufacture to feature the tachymeter scale outside the dial, incorporated instead on the bezel.
The present watch is a very attractive example, maintaining its lovely original “Paul Newman” exotic dial in superb condition, a strong case and a riveted Oyster bracelet maintaining full rigidity. The bezel is that of a reference 6265 and was most probably swapped when the watch was sent for servicing.
The black grené dial with white subsidiary dials, coupled with the bright red of the “Daytona” text at 6 o’clock, form a strikingly beautiful aesthetic. The outer red 1/5th seconds track and Art Deco style font displayed in the subsidiary dials, with well-preserved concentric circles, further enhance the depth of this watch’s beauty.
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.