Closed | Important watches – Saturday 15 November 2014

Rolex launched an elegant chronograph in 1955 and after making a few adjustments the Cosmograph (Ref. 6239) was released in 1963. This was the first time Rolex had the Tachymetre on the outside of the crystal and this model is considered to be the first Daytona.

Actor and racing enthusiast Paul Newman had a great watch interest and it’s told that he owned five different Daytonas during his lifetime. The first one was a Ref 6263 with a black dial and white index that he got as a gift from his wife, the actress Joanne Woodward.

The so called “Paul Newman-dial” with the characteristic square markings was initially no sales success, it’s not until later it has gotten its revenge and become a collectors item. Notably, it wasn’t Rolex that gave the watch its nickname, it was made up much later by collectors.

The Rolex Daytona with a “Paul Newman-dial” is both sought after and valuable, but the watch we are offering in this auction is even more special than that. Singer, a subcontractor which made dials, switched the order of the words written on the dial. Instead of the usual order Rolex Oyster Cosmograph, they wrote Rolex Cosmograph Oyster, in short RCO. The RCO-dials were delivered in only a short series and are now very rare collectibles.