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Lot Essay
US$50,000-70,000
With Rolex additional bezel, steel buckle, steel bracelet, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Reference 6239, the very first model of the celebrated "Daytona" series, succeeded reference 6238 and could be found in sales catalogues in Europe as of 1964. It is thought though that the model was available in the US already in 1963. Available in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachometre scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different color than the main dial for better readability. The dials of the early models featured only the designation "Cosmograph", referring to the outer space travels of the early 60s. The "Daytona" was added on later series to mark Rolex's sponsorship of the renowned NASCAR stock car race.
The so-called "exotic" or "tropical" dial, later surnamed "Paul Newman", became soon available for reference 6239 and were either two-coloured white/cream and black or three-coloured, such as the present watch, with the addition of the red seconds scales.
The present example is an attractive example of the famed "Paul Newman" model and offers the sought-after three-coloured dial, a must for the savvy Rolex collector.
For detailed descriptions and illustrations of the dial and bezel variations of reference 6239 see Rolex Daytona - a legend is born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 44 - 61. Different versions of reference 6239 in regard to case material and dial layout are furthermore described and illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 296-303.
With Rolex additional bezel, steel buckle, steel bracelet, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Reference 6239, the very first model of the celebrated "Daytona" series, succeeded reference 6238 and could be found in sales catalogues in Europe as of 1964. It is thought though that the model was available in the US already in 1963. Available in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachometre scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different color than the main dial for better readability. The dials of the early models featured only the designation "Cosmograph", referring to the outer space travels of the early 60s. The "Daytona" was added on later series to mark Rolex's sponsorship of the renowned NASCAR stock car race.
The so-called "exotic" or "tropical" dial, later surnamed "Paul Newman", became soon available for reference 6239 and were either two-coloured white/cream and black or three-coloured, such as the present watch, with the addition of the red seconds scales.
The present example is an attractive example of the famed "Paul Newman" model and offers the sought-after three-coloured dial, a must for the savvy Rolex collector.
For detailed descriptions and illustrations of the dial and bezel variations of reference 6239 see Rolex Daytona - a legend is born by Carlo Pergola, Stefano Mazzariol, Giovanni Dosso, pp. 44 - 61. Different versions of reference 6239 in regard to case material and dial layout are furthermore described and illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 296-303.