Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003

LOT 308

So-called "Paul Newman" Rolex Oyster Cosmograph "Daytona" , Ref. 6265, case No. 6047425, with red dial and steel bezel. Prototype made in a very few examples in 1979. Extremely fine and rare, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and a stainless steel Oyster bracelet. Accompanied by a recent Rolex certificate of overhaul.

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EUR 0 - 0 / USD 0 - 0

Sold: CHF 416,000

C. three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, crowns and buttons, tachometer graduation on the steel bezel to 200 units per hour. D. red with applied steel indexes and tritium dots, white auxiliary dials for the seconds, the 12-hour and 30-minute registers."Bâton" tritium-coated steel hands. M. Cal. 727, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 3 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 37 mm.Approx. overall length 190 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

The next two lots, almost certainly prototypes, are astonishing and extremely rare examples illustrating the evolution of research and design of the Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Daytona wristwatch, known to collectors as the "Paul ewman" watch. In 1979 Rolex made a few experimental dials for References 6263 and 6265, in three different colors, one of which was red. The red dial was produced in two versions, the first, as in lot 308, has white subsidiary dials and chronograph seconds scale. The second version, as in lot 309, has black subsidiary dials and chronograph seconds scale. To our knowledge, no other such watches have ever been offered at auction, nor have they ever been published in a book. We are pleased to be the first in the world to present these exceptional pieces.