Rolex - Game Changers New York Tuesday, December 10, 2019 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1967
    Reference No: 6241; inner caseback additionally stamped 6241
    Case No: 1'767'498
    Model Name: Cosmograph Daytona “Cherry Logo”
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 722-1, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster rivet bracelet, reference 7205, end links stamped 71, max length 210mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp, stamped 4.66
    Dimensions: 37mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by valuation letter and original crystal.
    Literature: For another stainless steel reference 6241 with “Cherry logo”, but with black dial, please see Ultimate Rolex Daytona by Pucci Papaleo, pp. 228-230.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Introduced to the market in 1966, the reference 6241 is the acrylic bezel companion to the metal bezel reference 6239. Approximately 3,000 examples were produced during a relatively short, four-year production run, and the present lot is amongst the rarest iterations.

    The sunburst silver finishing of the dial captures the eye immediately, with its clean and spacious layout reflecting any light beautifully. The eye then drifts down to the bright red “Daytona” designation, the printing slightly raised with delicate serifs on each letter. This is the most outstanding feature of the watch, one that wouldn’t be seen again on a non-Paul Newman Daytona until the “Big Red” variants of the 6263 and 6265. The “Cherry” designation appears on very few pump pusher Daytonas, making it one of the rarer dial configurations found on the Cosmograph Daytona. Few have appeared publicly across all four pump pusher Daytona references, and fewer still are illustrated in literature. The printing is most similar to the red Daytona designation found on the exotic dial Paul Newman Daytona. An examination of the serial numbers of various 6241s shows that this “Cherry” 6241 was being cased alongside, likely the same timeframe, as “Paul Newman” 6241s with similar red text.

    Remarkably well-preserved, the case and dial of the present example show hardly any signs of aging or wear, or even a prior servicing. The dial’s luminous hour markers are perfectly preserved and complete; the case, unpolished and sharp, as delivered by the factory over 50 years ago. Our research shows the current reference 6241 with “Cherry logo” is the earliest known 6241 to appear with the “Cherry” designation. It is offered here fresh-to-the-market, consigned by the son of the original owner - a treasure for those who delight in the rare and unusual variants of vintage Rolex.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    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.

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Ref. 6241; inner caseback additionally stamped 6241
An extremely rare, early, and well-preserved stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet and “Cherry” Daytona designation

Circa 1967
37mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed.

Estimate
$80,000 - 160,000 
CHF79,600-159,000
€72,500-145,000
HK$626,000-1,250,000

Sold for $106,250

Contact Specialist
Paul Boutros
Head of Watches, Americas & International Strategy Advisor
Senior Vice President
+1 212 940 1293
pboutros@phillips.com

Game Changers

New York Auction 10 December 2019