Rolex

To most Rolex collectors today both new and old, a Paul Newman Daytona is a must have in their collection. The ‘exotic’ dials created by Rolex in the 1960s have driven vintage watch collecting to new heights with its desirability and rarity. However it was not always so.

Characterized by contrasting color sunken sub-dial registers with Art Deco style 15/30/45/60  numerals and square-tip ‘lollipop’ hash marks, the iconic design is immediately recognizable. It was perhaps this bold design that first put off Rolex clients from timepieces featuring the exotic dials. Due to its unpopularity, production was limited; it is estimated that around 20 standard Daytona dials were produced for every single exotic ‘Paul Newman’ dial. In an ironic twist, its initial unpopularity subsequently led to its rarity. 

The moniker ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona was coined due to its association with the actor and race car driver Paul Newman who famously sported a Rolex with this dial configuration. Gifted from his wife Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman frequently wore his Rolex Reference 6239 during his racing career. 

Our present Paul Newman Daytona is a rare Reference 6240. The Reference 6240 is a reference that is significant not only for its technical achievement but also for how it influenced the subsequent lineup of Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas. Initially produced as a prototype, the 6240 stands out as the first truly waterproof Daytona by replacing the pump pushers of the References 6239 and 6241 with screw-down pushers. As the first waterproof Daytona, the 6240 was also the first Reference to bear ‘Oyster’ on its dials. Manufactured only in steel and fitted with a black Bakelite tachymeter bezel calibrated to 200, it was produced only during the second half of the 1960s, and it is thought that no more than 1750 examples were made. 

The rarity of our 6240 is amplified with a reverse-panda exotic ‘Paul Newman’ dial. Already a rarity, Paul Newman dials are scarcely found in Reference 6240s and are only accepted in the 1.65 million serial number range, making our present timepiece a truly exceptional find.

The watch is powered by the calibre Valjoux 722-1, a modified version of the Valjoux 72 which improved the engagement of the hour wheel and beats at a frequency of 18000 vph. Fitted on a rivet link Oyster bracelet signed Rolex U.S.A. and C & I, we are pleased to offer this extraordinary find, ready to be enjoyed by its next custodian.