Everything You Need To Know About The Greatest Rolex Of All Time

Talking about the greatest Rolex of all time, which is as infamous as it is famous, as beautiful as it is dangerous, and as valuable as it is rare. Only one Rolex in the brand’s archives garners this much attention or excitement. It’s the “Paul Newman” Rolex Daytona.

The Paul Newman Daytona sets itself apart not just in the Rolex range but among other watches in the industry. While many call it a vintage classic, we beg to differ. A watch of this stature cannot simply be called that.

But what is it about this watch that gets Rolex enthusiasts in such a frenzy? Is it the man who wore it and made it famous? Or is it because of the fact that the watch was initially ignored but went on to become the most in-demand watch later? Or, perhaps it’s because of the exorbitant growth of the resale prices over the past few decades that made this Daytona a Holy Grail for watch collectors?

There are many questions, but the answer remains unknown. This guide aims to offer clarity on what connoisseurs now consider the greatest Rolex of all time. Read on to learn everything about the Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239, including its history and other interesting details.

Who is Paul Newman?

A renowned American actor, philanthropist, and film director, Paul Newman gained fame for his stupendous acting career. Apart from his contributions to the film industry, Paul Newman was a successful racing driver and entrepreneur who founded ‘Newman’s Own’. It’s a food company that donates all its profits to charitable causes. Newman’s charisma, talent, and humanitarian efforts left a lasting legacy. Paul Newman passed away on September 26, 2008.  

The Iconic Daytona – Paul Newman Connection

The Rolex reference 6239 was the first iteration of the iconic Rolex Daytona and also the first Paul Newman Daytona. While the famous actor and racer owned a number of Rolex Daytona watches in his lifetime, the Daytona Ref. 6239 was the actual reference he wore.

The Daytona 6239’s exotic dial and association with the legendary actor Paul Newman added allure to the timepiece.

What is a ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona?

Rolex originally introduced the Daytona model in 1963, intending to combine a stylish design with a reliable chronograph and tachymeter scale. The watch was created to suit the needs of drivers who needed a watch to accurately measure average speeds of up to 400km/hour.

During this period, Rolex began offering a unique dial variation for the Daytona chronographs, which was quite an aesthetic departure from the regular Daytona dials. These were officially called ‘exotic dials’.

Interestingly, the only thing that differentiates a vintage Daytona from a Paul Newman Daytona is the ‘dial’. That’s all. And that is why the Paul Newman is one of the most hyped vintage watches on the planet.

But despite the precision and craftsmanship, the exotic dials collected dust on shelves for years and years. It seems unimaginable, right? Because these exotic dials didn’t sell well at one point, Rolex simply didn’t make that many of them. It’s estimated that for every 20 standard Daytona dials, Rolex produced just one exotic dial, meaning only around 2,000 to 3,000 exotic Daytona dials were made — and only a small fraction of them have survived to this day.

Today, the distinctive look of the ‘Paul Newman’ dial, coupled with its rarity and iconic associations, makes it a true masterpiece. It is no longer a testament to Rolex’s innovative spirit but also stands as one of the most sought-after and expensive watches ever sold.

Key Features of the Paul Newman Daytona:

• Model: 6239
• Year: 1963 – 1969
• Case Size: 36mm
• Material: Stainless Steel, 18ct Yellow Gold, 14ct Yellow Gold
• Dial: ‘Exotic’ dial with Art Deco numerals & luminous hour markers
• Bezel: Stainless Steel or Yellow Gold, Fixed with Tachymeter Scale
• Pusher: Pump-Style, not Screw Down
• Crystal: Acrylic
• Bracelet: Oyster/Jubilee Bracelet, Leather Strap
• Movement: Valjoux 72; Valjoux 722

Paul Newman Daytona’s Rise To Fame

Rolex’s love affair with Paul Newman started when the later filmed the movie Winning wearing a Rolex Daytona. Newman played a race car driver in the 1969 movie, and from that moment, the Rolex Daytona was never seen with the same eyes.

Originally, the Rolex Daytona was not very revered, but after Paul Newman started wearing it, the watch became the most sought-after watch in the horological world.

An Italian magazine reshaped the narrative..

Paul Newman was seen wearing his own Daytona Ref. 6239 with an exotic dial on the cover of an Italian magazine, and it was at that moment that the powerful Italian dealer base decided that this watch would be the next big thing in watches. While it is unclear when the photograph was taken, it surely made waves. Newman’s ownership of this exotic-dial Daytona was enough to set the watch off.

Characteristics of the ‘Paul Newman’ Dial

The dial of the Paul Newman variant is audaciously vibrant, characterised by contrasts and intricate detailing. The Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 featured a ‘Tri-colour’ white dial with contrasting black chronograph sub-dials and red accents. Rolex also produced a black exotic dial variant with white registers and a red minute track surrounding the dial’s perimeter.

The striking red color was used for the “DAYTONA” text above the 6 o’clock mark on both dial versions, while the fixed metal bezel was engraved with a tachymeter scale. The dial features an Art Deco-style font for the numerals, and the hash marks have a small square at the end. Additionally, the dial has a small ‘step’ between the outer minute track and the dial centre.

Additionally, the case of the Daytona 6239 has pump pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock instead of the screw-down pushers that later were integrated into the Daytona line.  

Key defining features of the Newman Daytona dial:

• Dial with contrasting sub-dials
• It has a black dial with light sub-dials for contrast, or a light dial with black sub-dials for contrast.
• The small cube-shaped hour markers are finished with a glossy black lacquer dome on the black dials, and with mirror-polished metal on the cream-coloured dials.
• The three sub-dials feature Art-Deco style font
• The numerals in the sub-dials are stylised with varying-width sinuous curves and strokes. This is most clearly seen on the threes, sixes, and nines.
• The three registers have crosshairs
• The three sub-dials feature hash marks at the end
• The seconds sub-dial includes 15, 30, 45 and 60 (traditional models have 20, 40 & 60)
• The dial has a small ‘step’ between the outer minute track & centre
• The outer minute track has a contrasting colour to the main dial
• Many of them, but not all, have tri-colour dials

While these are some of the most easily distinguishable elements, the Paul Newman Daytona also hosts several distinctive iconographic subtleties that remained secret for the longest period.

Here’s a list of the nearly microscopic design elements that validate a genuine Paul Newman Rolex Daytona.

• The way the 5s are printed
• The letter ‘H’ in Cosmograph
• The way the 3s are printed
• The step-down at the edge of the dial
• The way the printing ink elevates on the sub-dials
• The texture of the luminous dots
• The way the letter ‘A’ is printed in Daytona
• The sub-dial at 5 o’clock is slightly misaligned with the square cap

Little known fact about the Paul Newman Daytona

Did you know that it was actually a company named Singer that was making these exotic dials for Rolex? Yes! Singer wasn’t just making the ‘Paul Newman’ dials for Rolex, but for Vulcain as well. It is Singer’s involvement in the production of these dials that makes the whole situation even murkier.

The exotic dial Daytona gained popularity from the 1980s through the 2000s, and Italian collectors soon proclaimed it the ‘Paul Newman’ Daytonas. It was then that the slow-seller of the 1960s and 70s became the hottest vintage watch in the world.

The Movement Inside Daytona 6239

Powering the famous Rolex Daytona Paul Newman Ref. 6239 is either the Valjoux 722 manual wind or the Valjoux 72 movement. It wasn’t until 1988 that automatic ones replaced the manually-wound movement. Even though manual movement requires some effort on the wearer’s part, there’s something very charming about the hand-wind models from the first-generation Rolex, making them more valuable and collectable than others.

Other Paul Newman Daytona References

• Reference 6239 ( 1963 – 1969)
• Reference 6241 ( 1965 – 1969)
• Reference 6262 (1969 – 1970)
• Reference 6263 (1969 – 1972)
• Reference 6264 (1971 – 1988)
• Reference 6265 (1971 – 1988)

Here’s a quick reference guide

Depending on the reference, you’ll find yellow gold and stainless steel versions of the Paul Newman Daytona and those with acrylic and metal bezel options.

The Most Significant 2017 Auction

One of the significant moments in the world of watches came on October 26, 2017, with the sale of the legendary Paul Newman Daytona. Paul Newman himself wore this Daytona for years before he gave it away.

The Paul Newman Daytona was sold out at $17.8 million. Don’t ever try to reason with yourself why the prices of Paul Newman pieces are so astronomical.

Surprisingly, the timepiece’s inflated price has little to do with the Daytona’s appearance or mechanical complexity but more to do with its rich history. Newman’s wife, Joanne Woodward, engraved the timepiece with the inscription “Drive Carefully, Me” and gifted it to the racer in 1963.

Reports show that Newman’s personal Daytona appealed to collectors since the 1980s when he gifted the watch to his daughter’s former boyfriend, James Cox. The Daytona remained in his possession until he sold it in 2017 at the Phillips Auction House, with a portion of the sale donated to the Nell Newman Foundation.

For decades, the whereabouts of this iconic timepiece were unknown before it resurfaced in 2017.

To the broader public, the Newman Daytona is just downright gorgeous. The playfulness and intricacies in the dial are captivating, and on the wrist, a Paul Newman is hard to match. Over the years, the demand and popularity of this model have crossed all boundaries, and today, it is arguably the most famous, sought-after, and greatest Rolex ever made.

Buying An Authentic Paul Newman Daytona

As mentioned, when initially released, Paul Newman dials didn’t garner much attention. Rolex fanatics were more inclined towards the standard or classic Daytona dial. Due to this lack of demand, Rolex produced the Paul Newman dials in less quantity, which explains their rarity.

This rarity, coupled with the rising interest in vintage Rolex watches and Paul Newman’s history, has led to the sky-high prices of these vintage pieces.

There are hardly any differences between the traditional Daytona and the Paul Newman, except for the dial, so it is quite tricky for collectors to distinguish. Unfortunately, some have exploited this opportunity by attaching counterfeit Paul Newman dials to regular Daytona watches and selling them as genuine Paul Newman pieces. As such, buying Rolex watches from a reputed and certified dealer is always advisable to avoid such circumstances.

Paul Newman Daytona: The Ultimate Rolex

While modern Rolex watches enjoy widespread popularity, vintage Rolex models are highly sought after by collectors, and the Paul Newman Rolex Daytona is a class apart. Simply put, Daytona watches with Paul Newman dials are the pinnacle of luxury. The Paul Newman Rolex Daytona is a perfect example of how a rough beginning can lead to a triumphant finish. The watch is a confluence of provenance, rarity, and the undeniable charm of the actor himself.

Those wondering if this Rolex is scarce or not, the answer is yes! But beyond its rarity, this Rolex is the ultimate investment. In fact, the sale of the Paul Newman Daytona set the stage for the rise of luxury watches as investments. However, it is impossible to predict the price the Rolex Daytona Ref. 6239 will command on the pre-owned market because factors like condition, age, dial colour, presence of box and papers, and various other attributes come into play. But the allure of the Daytona goes beyond what words can ever articulate.

So, it’s safe to say that the upward trajectory of the Newman Daytona’s price will persist.