First debuting in 1969, the references 6263 and 6265 in stainless steel notably featured screw-down pushers engineered for increased water resistance, and remained in production until 1987, when they were replaced by the automatic reference 16520.
Like the earliest pump pusher references 6239 and 6241, Singer produced “exotic” dials for their screw-down pusher descendants (including the 6240). Now known as “Paul Newman” dials, the predominantly white version fitted to the upgraded pump pusher references 6262 and 6264, as well as the 6263 and 6265 loses the red outer scale and retains only the white and black color scheme known today to collectors as the "Panda" dial. Inside the timepiece beats the caliber 727, an evolution from the caliber 722-1 and 72 A, present on Rolexes from 1969 until 1987.
Still absolutely relevant for today's tastes, the "Paul Newman Panda" was not an immediate success - this forced Rolex to reduce and cease production quite rapidly, inevitably making those few Paul Newman reference 6263 and 6265 extremely rare and sought after today. Even in such a contracted production period, myriad small changes and upgrades were made to such details as the printing of the dial and shape of the pushers. This “Paul Newman Panda”, bearing the serial number 2’924’144, dates to 1971 and bears a “Mark 2” dial and beautifully-preserved “Mark 1” screw-down pushers. The bezel is a later acrylic insert for a reference 6263 from the mid-1970s, as the reference 6265 originally came with a metal bezel. One of two situations are possible for such a bezel to be fitted: one, that the watch was sold later than the production date, and that the acrylic insert was fitted at the time of sale at the request of the buyer (or whim of the seller), or two, during a Rolex service, in the absence of a correct replacement metal bezel, an acrylic insert was fitted instead.
The current consignor purchased this 6265 “Paul Newman Panda” with this same acrylic bezel at auction in June 1998, as well as the lot that immediately preceded it. The footnote at the time noted that the watch had recently underwent a Rolex service. It has stayed in his collection since then, and now is publicly unveiled for the first time in a quarter of a century, with a beautifully preserved dial and exceptional good looks.
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.
Ref. 6265; inside caseback stamped 6241 A very rare and well-preserved stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with Mark 2 “Paul Newman Panda” dial and bracelet
Circa 1971 37mm Diameter Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed.
