The Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona isn’t just a holy grail Rolex, it’s among the most coveted collector watches you can buy. And you can score one of these extremely rare Rollies from Amsterdam Vintage Watches right now.
The Dutch luxury watch retailer is selling a 1970 Rolex Daytona Reference 6262. Design-wise, it’s almost identical to the original Reference 6239, which is the original reference worn by legendary movie star and avid racer.
In fact, Newman’s personal Daytona Reference 6239 sold for an exorbitant $17,752,500 in 2017, making it the most expensive watch ever sold at the time and the world’s most expensive Rolex—it retains the latter record today.
Like that record setter, the Reference 6262 on offer here features a creamy white dial with black subdials. This one also features a faint stripe between the 9 and 6 o’clock subdials, perfectly preserved tritium hour markers, and an Oyster bracelet 7205, stamped with the year 1970.
Two major factors distinguish the Reference 6262 from the original Reference 6239. One is the time period in which they were produced—Reference 6239 was produced with the Art Deco-inspired “Exotic Dial,” the hallmark of Paul Newman Daytonas, in very limited numbers from 1963 through 1969, while 6262’s Exotic Dial run lasted for just one year, from 1970 through 1971.
The other factor is the movement. Reference 6239 examples feature a Valjoux 722 movement that beats at 18,00 vibrations per hour, while the upgraded Valjoux 727 movement powering the Reference 6262 beats at a superior 21,600 vibrations per hour.
Priced at just over $250,000, this Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona Reference 6262 is available to purchase from Amsterdam Vintage Watches here.