Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Monaco, Jul 25, 2023

LOT 199

ROLEX, REF. 6241, DAYTONA, PAUL NEWMAN, MANUAL WINDING, STAINLESS STEEL, STUNNING PAUL NEWMAN DIAL

EUR 170,000 - 240,000

USD 186,000 - 262,000 / HKD 1,450,000 - 2,050,000 / CHF 168,000 - 236,000

Fine and very rare, manual winding, stainless steel chronograph, Paul Newman dial, wristwatch. Ø t swiss t, some luminous dots are lost, others are cracked, clean dial. Polished case.


Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8-17

Very good

Slightly scratched

Slightly spotted

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01-18

Very good

HANDS Original

Spotted

Brand Rolex, Switzerland

Model Daytona "Paul Newman"

Reference 6241

Year circa 1968

Case No. 1765293

Material stainless steel

Bracelet Rolex Oyster riveted stainless steel bracelet

Diameter 36 mm.

Caliber 722, 17 jewels

Signature dial, case and movement

Notes

** This lot might need a passeport and/or licence of exportationfor which will apply on your behalf to the French Ministry of Culture. Note, it may take 1 to 3 month(s) to obtain this license or passport. Antiquorum cannot be held responsible for any delays in the application process.

When Malcolm Campbell broke the speed record of 445 km/h on the Daytona Beach circuit in 1935, he was wearing. When the Rolex Daytona became the official watch of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the American equivalent of the 24 hours of Le Mans, the chronograph was thus consecrated as THE watch for car racers.

It is the reason why Rolex developed an “exotic dial” offering a better visibility for racing drivers. First, because of the two-color dial, or like here the three-color dial, in black and white with a red tachymeter scale ; second with the indexes in the registers which are boldly square and Arabic numerals. According to the specialists, although it has never been confirmed, for every one exotic dial, roughly twenty-four Daytona dials were produced, and many of those exotic dials are no longer still in existence today. They are named “Paul Newman” after the famous eponymous Hollywood actor who use to wear a Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 with an exotic dial.

Produced between 1966 and 1969, the reference 6241 is recognizable with the smooth pushers and the beautiful black epoxy bezel graduated 50-200 units per hour. Experts agree that approximately 2’300 copies were produced in stainless steel – approximately 700 in gold – and one can be certain that only a very small number of those with “Paul Newman” three colors dials are as well preserved as this lot. To come across a reference 6241 is rare, but this example with this dial is even rarer.

Provenance

property of an italian collector