ROLEX DAYTONA "PAUL NEWMAN" REF. 6239 N. 19585XX STAINLESS STEEL WRISTWATCH, 1969
ROLEX DAYTONA "PAUL NEWMAN" REF. 6239 N. 19585XX ANNO 1969
cassa in acciaio, fondello a vite, corona a vite marcata Rolex e pulsanti a pompa, quadrante nero a tre colori con contatori a contrasto, movimento cronografo a carica manuale cal 722-1, bracciale oyster in acciaio ref. 7835 finali 357, lungh. interna cm 19, chiusura a scatoletta in acciaio marcata Rolex, vetro minerale. Diam. mm 37.
The Cosmograph Rolex Daytona, a production chronograph by the Genevan brand, is one of the most coveted and desired by enthusiasts and collectors in the sector. Even more sought after is the famous Paul Newman version, the watch worn by the famous actor and pilot, now considered the most important collector’s watch.
The Rolex Daytona was launched in 1963 and will be the chronograph watch of the Geneva manufacture that will enter the myth. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was designed to equip drivers and the motor racing circuit with an instrument capable of timing with extreme precision. To accomplish this task, Rolex fitted its new timepiece with a tachymeter dial and three sub-dials. The link between the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona and the world of motor racing is already evident from the name of the model, it is in fact a reference to the Speedway racing circuit of Daytona Beach in Florida, then sponsored by Rolex.
The origin of the legendary Rolex Daytona "Paul Newman" is due to the legendary actor.
Paul Newman was one of the most famous people to have made the Rolex Daytona his favourite wristwatch. Paul Newman, in his long and varied career managed to combine his profession of actor and director with the great passion he had for the world of motor racing, participating in the most important in the industry such as Le Mans in '79 and repeated times at the 24 Hours of Daytona, until the last in 2005.
Paul Newman had his Rolex Cosmograph Daytona as a gift from his wife Joanne Woodward in the late 1960s, who had engraved on the case back the words «Drive Carefully Me», that is «Guide with caution, Me». The watch in question was a Rolex Daytona reference 6239, for Paul Newman was love at first sight, so much so that he always wore it on his wrist during his car races.
The peculiar characteristics of the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman that make it recognizable by another Rolex Daytona essentially concern the realization of some details of the dial.
The main features of the dial are in fact the bichromatic graphic contrasting with the bottom of the counters, and the creation of the watch on two levels, which creates a step, almost imperceptible, between the outer part of the Paul Newman dial and the central one. The counters are shown in concentric circles and even the graphic of the numbers looks substantially different from that of the traditional Cosmograph Daytona.
Models with white backgrounds and black sub-dials are known as "Panda Dial" because of the animal’s resemblance, and black-background versions and white sub-dials are called "Reverse Panda Dial".
The Rolex Daytona references that can be called Paul Newman are primarily the 6239, the model that belonged to the actor, the 6241, the 6262, the 6263, the 6264 and the 6265, references that share some characteristics but vary for others. In common the Daytona Paul Newmans have the glass plexiglass dome; the design of the dial, the colors, the movements, the buttons and the case are among the elements that vary.
The Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239, known as the "Paul Newman" owned by the legendary actor, is the most expensive Rolex Daytona in history, still one of the most important investment watches in international auctions realizing exorbitant figures, leaving aside the model really belonged to the actor who was awarded for about 17 million dollars.