281 Rolex Fresh to the Market, Absolutely Exceptional and Very Attractive, Daytona Paul Newman Chronograph, Wristwatch in Steel, With Gorgeous Tropical Brown “Oyster Sotto” Dial, Reference 6263, Published in The Book “FERO - 150 Steel Chronogra

Estimate: € 1,000,000 –⁠ 2,000,000

Sold € 1,796,000

Model: Daytona Paul Newman
Reference: 6263
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel
Year: 1969
Movement: Manual
Caliber: 727
Case N°: 2 197 852
Dimensions: 37 mm
Signed: Dial, Movement and Case
Accessories: Double Pucci Papaleo’s Confirmation Letter
Literature: This specific watch is published in Pucci Papaleo’s Book “FERO - 150 Steel Chronographs” at Page 244–245 For an historical insight of the only other similar watch known, please see:—Sotheby’s “Important Watches”, Geneva Auction, 14 November 2010 as lot 104, sold for CHF 464,500—Phillips “START-STOP-RESET: 88 Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs” Geneva Auction, 14 May 2016 as lot 31, sold for CHF 1,985,000

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman “Oyster Sotto” is, without any doubt, a dream watch and a legend among the collectors’ community. Monaco Legend Group is absolutely delighted to offer this extremely rare reference 6263, with what is certainly the most beautiful tropical dial ever seen. Fewer than 20 examples have appeared at auction, highlighting how incredibly rare these Rolex chronographs are, all of them bearing low serial numbers around 2.085 million and 2.2 million. The names “RCO” and “Oyster Sotto” (meaning “Oyster Underneath” in Italian) were bestowed by collectors due to the fact that rather than the familiar “Rolex”—“Oyster”—“Cosmograph” layout that is seen on the classic variant of these rare exotic black dials, the text is displayed as “Rolex”—“Cosmograph”—“Oyster”. The reason for the’Oyster Sotto’ or “RCO” is that the dials were originally intended for the non-waterproof references such as 6262 and 6264 which are signed “Rolex Cosmograph Daytona” only. When the new water-resistant “Oyster” case was introduced for the reference 6263, in around 1969, it is believed that certain customers must have specifically requested that their watch should have an exotic dial of the type now known by collectors as the “Paul Newman”. Of course no such dials existed specifically for the water-resistant Oyster model and therefore a small number of the already printed current non-Oyster dials were adapted with the addition of the word “Oyster” in plain font. As the dials were already preprinted, there was no option but to place the word “Oyster” below the words “Rolex Cosmograph”. And thus an anomaly was created that exists in so few examples that it has become the pinnacle of desirability amongst Rolex Daytonas. Recognizable by the art-deco style Arabic numerals and squared markers found in the subsidiary dials, only very few examples of this configuration have appeared and all on reference 6263 models. Featuring its original and very rare Mark 1 pushers known as millerighe, the stainless steel case of the present watch is in excellent condition as well as the original untouched black dial that turned into a beautiful brown tropical colour. This feature is extremely rare and makes this lot probably the most beautiful among all the RCO since only another one was seen with tropical dial. Is it interesting to notice that the other “Tropical” RCO has already been sold at auction twice during the years, the first time at Sotheby’s “Important Watches”, Geneva 14 November 2010 for CHF 464 500 and a second one at Phillips “START-STOP-RESET: 88 Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs” Geneva 14 May 2016 for the remarkable price of CHF 1 985 000, quadrupling its value in just 6 years. The homogeneity of the one here offered is absolutely incredible, with the light brown being very rich in color, what we would describe as a milk chocolate hue. The bold red “Daytona” logo above the chronograph’s hour counter at 6 o’clock complements the red outer track perfectly, completely matching the “T SWISS T” designation at the bottom edge of the dial. This watch represents an extremely rare opportunity to acquire one of the “Holy Grail” models for vintage Rolex collectors and its notable overall quality is worthy of “crowning” the next collection it enters as the ultimate trophy for enthusiasts of vintage Rolex Daytonas. Moreover, it is also important to highlight that this specimen has only had two owners in its history and is coming directly from one of the most important and prominent Daytona collections ever assembled. For the first time at auction, Monaco Legend is extremely proud to offer a watch that will surely mark a milestone in the watch collecting world.