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Lot Essay
Consigned by the original owner, the present watch is a very fine and well preserved example of the highly sought after Cosmograph Daytona model with a so-called Paul Newman dial.
The original dial is free from any cosmetic enhancements, the case has been gently polished but retains full proportions and sharp edges. The bracelet ref. 7835 is the correct version for the period and so is the bezel, calibrated to 300 units as opposed to the 200 units of later models.
Reference 6239
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. The model remained in production until the mid-1970s. Available in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachometer scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different colour than the main dial for better readability. The dials of the first models featured only the designation "Cosmograph", referring to the outer space travels of the early 60s.
The "Daytona" was added shortly after to mark Rolex's sponsorship of the renowned Nascar stock car race. The so-called "exotic" or "tropical" dial, later surnamed "Paul Newman", became available soon for reference 6239, either two-coloured white/cream and black or three-coloured, with the addition of the red seconds scales.
The original dial is free from any cosmetic enhancements, the case has been gently polished but retains full proportions and sharp edges. The bracelet ref. 7835 is the correct version for the period and so is the bezel, calibrated to 300 units as opposed to the 200 units of later models.
Reference 6239
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. The model remained in production until the mid-1970s. Available in stainless steel, 14K and 18K gold, reference 6239 was the firm's first chronograph with the tachometer scale engraved on the bezel and the subsidiary dials printed in a different colour than the main dial for better readability. The dials of the first models featured only the designation "Cosmograph", referring to the outer space travels of the early 60s.
The "Daytona" was added shortly after to mark Rolex's sponsorship of the renowned Nascar stock car race. The so-called "exotic" or "tropical" dial, later surnamed "Paul Newman", became available soon for reference 6239, either two-coloured white/cream and black or three-coloured, with the addition of the red seconds scales.