Rolex

Rolex

Cosmograph Daytona ‘Paul Newman’, Reference 6240

A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet, Circa 1967

Dial: black

Calibre: cal. 722-1 mechanical, 17 jewels

Case: stainless steel, screw down case back

Case number: 1’658’366

Closure: stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and folding clasp

Size: 37 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 190 mm

Signed: case, dial and movement

Accessories: none

The present Paul Newman Daytona belongs to the reference 6240. Introduced shortly after the premier reference 6239, this model featured a black plastic tachymetre bezel as opposed to steel, giving the watch more wrist presence, and as a result is often favoured by collectors. Paired with the black exotic dial, this ‘black on black’ configuration is one of the most desirable in all of Rolex collecting. 

The present example, however, is rather cryptic. The bezel, dial and handset all belong to the earliest batch of Paul Newmans made and are a perfect match for each other. It is often believed by experts that the exotic dial is only correct for the 6240 within the 1.65M serial range, which this example does indeed belong to. When considered with the condition of the aforementioned components, this example can be said to be highly attractive.

The question marks surrounding this lot come down to the so far unmentioned components: the pushers. Reference 6240, though not an Oyster, can be considered to be the first ‘truly waterproof’ Rolex chronograph, due to the fact they were factory fitted with screw down pushers. Conspicuously, the present example is fitted with pump pushers. In the world of vintage Rolex collecting, authenticity and correctness are paramount, so a discrepancy as obvious as this warrants more than the usual consideration. The attractive condition that the rest of the watch is in must be taken into account, together with the fact that the present lot comes from a consignor who has kept the watch in its current state for over 20 years.

As a result, we can only surmise why the present watch was fitted with pump pushers. One likely possibility is that, because of the initial unpopularity of the model line, examples often sat for years in showcases and shop windows. As a result when a buyer finally appeared, retailers were known to bend the rules in order to accommodate their wishes in order to finally offload harder sells. Stories where shops switched bracelets, dials and other components are very common. This could be one of those cases, where a client walked into a retailer wishing for a pump pusher chronograph, but the store only had a screw down variant available. Unwilling to lose out on the opportunity, the watch was taken to the back for the desired components to be fitted.

Regardless of the reason, the present Paul Newman Daytona is still configured to be one of the most desirable Rolexes on the market. With an honest and attractive dial sitting within the accepted serial range, accompanied by correct hands and bezel, this lot offers collectors the chance to own one of the most iconic and storied references and model lines in the world of watch collecting, with an interesting spin on the usual story, and fit to be the jewel in the crown for any collection.