Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...
Hong Kong, Jun 27, 2009
LOT 452
Ref. 6239, Cosmograph Daytona, Paul Newman Rolex, ?Cosmograph, Daytona", case No. 1874379. Ref. 6239. Made in 1966. Very fine and very rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and a stainless steel folded-link Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp. To be sold without reserve
HKD 280,000 - 420,000
USD 40,000 - 60,000 / EUR 28,000 - 42,000
Sold: HKD 348,000
C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down engraved case back and crown, tachometer graduation on the polished steel bezel to 200 units per hour. D. Three-color matte black and matte white with square indexes and luminous dots, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, outer minute/seconds division in red. Luminous steel baton hands. M. Cal. 722-1, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straightline lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 3 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm. Thickness 13 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3-9 |
Good Scratched |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-7-01 |
Good Oxidized HANDS Original |
Notes
The Ref. 6239 was produced from 1961 to 1976. The first examples with exotic dial, the so-called ?Paul Newman?, came on the market in the late 60s. They were produced in 18K yellow gold, 14K yellow gold and stainless steel. Since the ref. 6239 has round non-screwed down push buttons, some collectors consider it a ?Non-Oyster? model. The famous ?Daytona? inscription was introduced circa 1964. In the very early models the bezel was graduated to 300 units/hour and in the later version it was graduated to 200. Reference 6239 was replaced by ref. 6263. It is said that Paul Newman wore a ref. 6239 ?Daytona? and did so since 1972. The watch was given to him by his wife, Joanne Woodward, when he took up automobile racing.