Rolex. A very rare and extremely attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with so-called Panda dial and bracelet
Lot 497

Rolex. A very rare and extremely attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with so-called Panda dial and bracelet

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER COSMOGRAPH, PAUL NEWMAN MODEL, REF. 6263, CASE NO. 2'805'180, CIRCA 1971

Closed10 November 2014

Price Realised

CHF 293,000

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Rolex. A very rare and extremely attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with so-called Panda dial and bracelet
Signed Rolex, Oyster Cosmograph, Paul Newman model, ref. 6263, case no. 2'805'180, circa 1971
Cal. 727 mechanical movement, 17 jewels, white matte dial, applied square numerals, luminous accents, outer fifths of a second divisions on black track, luminous hands, three subsidiary black engine-turned dials for constant seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours registers, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, black bezel calibrated for 200 units per hour, screw back, screw down crown, two round screw down chronograph buttons in the band, stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, deployant clasp, case, dial and movement signed
37.5 mm. diam.

Specialist note

Reference 6263, mounting a black bezel and screw down pushers, inherits the legacy of reference 6240, the first of the screw down pushers Daytona, also mounting a black bezel. The similarity is obvious, the differences much less so. As a matter of fact, however, the case design of reference 6263 is slightly more massive, and the movement is the new calibre 727, whilst reference 6240 usually mounts the older calibre 722 (even though early examples are known with the earlier 72B calibre, and late ones with the 722-1 calibre). The defining feature of both references is undeniably the presence of the screw down pushers, which make the entire watch look bigger, more sportive and aggressive.

This example of reference 6263, however, is further graced by the incredibly rare and attractive "Panda" version of the famed white Paul Newman dial. That is, a white Paul Newman dial that displays only two colors: black and white, without red track or red Daytona designation. In its simplicity, the Panda dial achieves a momentous aesthetic result, especially when mounted on a 6263: the simple and stylish alternation of black and white overflows the boundaries of the dial and is reprised by the black bezel and steel case. Many Rolex collectors consider the Panda 6263 as one of the most eye-pleasing "standard production" Daytonas ever made. Combining screw down pushers and a Panda dial, the present timepiece is a horologic treasure as rare as it is enthralling.