189 Rolex Astonishing, Very Rare and Well Preserved, Daytona, Chronograph Wristwatch in 18Kt Yellow Gold, With Champagne “Paul Newman” Dial, Reference 6241
Estimate: €500,000 – 1,000,000
Sold (Premium)€624,000
Model: Daytona
Reference: 6241
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 1968
Movement: Manual
Caliber: 722
Case N°: 1 757 861
Dimensions: 37 mm
Signed: Dial, Movement and Case
Manual winding Daytona are still one of the favorites among collectors. As known, they can be divided in categories based on some of their characteristics: by caliber, four later references featuring caliber 727 (launched in the late 1960s) and three earlier models featuring earlier calibers (72B, 722, 722-1). Based on the type of bezel: steel/gold for 6239/6262 and 6265 or acrylic for 6240, 6241, 6264 and 6263. For screw-down pushers (6240, 6263 and 6265) or pump pushers (all the other references). But also, and mainly, for their style of dial: classical or the iconic “Paul Newman” version. Presumably destined for the American market, but immediately loved by the rest of the world too, the Daytona “Paul Newman” is one of the most fascinating phenomena in the watch collecting market. The lot here offered is an astonishing example of reference 6241 in yellow gold: presented in 1965 sports a slightly wider metal bezel that, for the first time, had an acrylic insert and is part of that brunch of Daytona’s powered by the caliber 722. The yellow-gold case with screw down back is preserved in incredible, original conditions but, of course, the whole watch is highlighted by the presence of an exceptionally well-preserved Paul Newman dial. It offers the very appreciable champagne background and black recessed subsidiary counters with champagne minutes/seconds, outer black track and black Daytona signature at six o’clock. This watch represents an extremely rare opportunity to acquire one of the “Holy Grail” models for vintage Rolex collectors and is one of the very few to have been manufactured with this exotic and charming configuration. Moreover, the watch only had two owners in its life and has been out of the market for the last 25 years.