Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 692

Ref. 6240, ?Paul Newman? Rolex, ?Oyster Cosmograph?, case No. 1439087, Ref. 6240. Made in 1966, sold on April 8th, 1968. Very fine and rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer, anti-reflective black bezel graduated to 200 units per hour and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by the original guarantee (now void) and Rolex service invoices.

CHF 120,000 - 170,000

USD 110,000 - 160,000 / EUR 75,000 - 110,000

Sold: CHF 137,700

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, buttons and crown, tachometer graduation on the bezel to 200 units per hour. D. Bicolor black and off-white with applied steel square indexes and luminous dots, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, outer minute/seconds division. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. 722, rhodium plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 3 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm. Thickness 14 mm. Approx. overall length 170 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Rolex, "Paul Newman" Cosmograph.
This particular model of the Rolex Cosmograph was initially called "exotic" because of its dial. In the 1980's, the "Paul Newman" became singled out, due to the square indexes marking the hour, minute and seconds divisions on the main and subsidiary dials. The sobriquet comes from the fact that Paul Newman wore the watch in the film "Carrera Mexicana".White squares are found on the steel-cased watches and black squares on the gold dial model. The "Paul Newman" is much rarer than the standard Cosmograph dials and consequently is much sought after by collectors.