Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 “Paul Newman with Lemon Dial” on sale at Christie’s Geneva

Breathtakingly rare, this Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 “Paul Newman with Lemon Dial” is the earliest of only three known examples of the 18K gold version of the iconic Rolex – it is also regarded as perhaps the most perfectly preserved of the three. In the pantheon of world-class Rolex wristwatches, few come close to the amazing rarity and beauty of this 18K gold screw-down pusher Paul Newman. A rare opportunity to fulfil a collector’s dream, this piece will be offered in the Christie’s Geneva Rare Watches on November 7 th, 2022.

Rémi Guillemin, Head of Watches Christie’s Geneva, shares: “This edition of Rare Watches promises to reward the patient and passionate collector in surprising ways. Setting the tone is this particularly spectacular Paul Newman Daytona ref. 6263 in 18k gold with the fabled ‘Oyster’ Lemon dial. Aptly named The Legend, it is to my eyes the best-preserved of only three known to exist – the rarest among the rare of Cosmograph Daytonas. At Christie’s Watches, being entrusted with the transition of such a watch is really what it’s all about, and for me personally, it is moments like these that remind me why I love this world. Especially here in Geneva, where over the years we have had the privilege to present some of the brand’s most historically significant and desirable watches at auction. The very special magic and mystique of the Rolex brand, but also of Geneva as the cradle of the Rolex universe, is amplified on such occasions – and with every exceptional piece to be offered at auction. Sometimes it feels like great Rolexes need to come home first before realising a collector’s long-harboured dream and beginning a new journey. Rare opportunities await at Christie’s Rare Watchesin Geneva on November 7th.”

Rolex ref. 6263 Daytona Oyster Cosmograph “Paul Newman”, case no. 2'330'402, circa 1969. An exceptionally rare and highly important 18k gold chronograph wristwatch with “early Oyster Lemon Paul Newman” dial and white subsidiary graphics.

In Pucci Papaleo’s definitive Ultimate Rolex Daytona reference work, the 18K gold reference 6263 with ‘Oyster Lemon’ dial featuring white subsidiary graphics is called THE LEGEND – fitting for the One among the three rarest and most fabled of all gold Cosmographs.

A zest for the exceptional

The so-called ‘Lemon’ Paul Newman refers to the rich yellow hue of the background colour, very different from the usual cream/champagne colour. It is furthermore distinguished by the white printing on the engine-turned subsidiary dials. Rolex usually produced the yellow gold ‘pump pusher’ Paul Newman Cosmograph references with champagne/gilt numbers and indexes on their totalizers which blend with the tonality of the dial as a whole, instead, the white numbers and indexes on the present ‘Lemon’ dial watch sharply contrast with the dark background providing a rather striking visual addition to the overall effect.

A rare opportunity at Rare Watches at the Hotel des Bergues in Geneva on November 7^th, 2022

For many years it was supposed that no gold Cosmograph Daytonas with screw-down chronograph pushers existed with ‘Oyster Lemon Paul Newman’ dials. The present watch from ca. 1969 caused a sensation when it appeared at auction for the first time in 2013; indeed, it was one of the most significant moments for Rolex scholars and Daytona collectors. The serial number 2’330’402 placed it very early in the production of reference 6263, predating even some of the last examples of the earlier ‘pump pusher’ references 6262 and 6264, at a time when Rolex were experimenting with different dial types.