Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman Reference 6263 Oyster Sotto (photo: Phillips)

The Phillip's Rolex Milestones auction in Hong Kong is less than a few days away and it will be interesting to see how much the "Paul Newman Oyster Sotto" Cosmograph Daytona Reference 6263 will fetch. It is estimated to be worth anywhere between $600,000 to $1,200,000 US, more than the "Panda" that I wrote about in a previous post. This is due to the rarity of the "Oyster Sotto" configuration that was introduced circa 1970.

One of the interesting aspects of this early 6263 reference is the addition of the word "Oyster" under the words "Rolex Cosmograph" on the Mk2 dial under the crown logo at 12 o'clock. According to John Goldberger in the Rolex Milestones catalog, the word "Oyster" was added in different lettering to reflect the fact that it features new waterproof pushers that weren't on the previous references that used this dial. The word 'sotto' means beneath in Italian, hence the name for this Paul Newman configuration.

This legendary Rolex features its original dial with a stainless steel bracelet from the period. For more information on this magnificent chronograph and all of the other Rolex models that will be up for grabs in a few days, visit phillips.com.

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The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with the "Paul Newman" dial (Reference #6263) comes in two different dial configurations. The one with a white background and black sub-dials shown in the photo below is known as the 'Panda' and is up for sale by Phillips Auction House in their Rolex Milestones auction set to take place on November 28th in Hong Kong. One of the differences between this and the "Oyster Sotto" version, with the black dial and white sub-dials, is the sequence of the words "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph" on the dial. On the black version the word "Oyster" is at the bottom, hence the name. 

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman Reference 6263 with Tropical Dial (photo: Phillips)

Estimated to take in between $350,000 and $700,000 US at the auction, this reference is unique not only due to the limited quantities of the "Paul Newman" dial that exist on the watch market, but also because of the tropical coloration of the outer track on the dial. In this case, the word "tropical" refers to the brown tone of the once black outer track of the dial. The discoloration, while a sign of age, is also an indication of the authenticity of the piece. With the rarity of "Paul Newman" Daytona models due to their unpopularity at the time of their release, finding one with its original parts, including its original bracelet, makes it even more attractive to collectors.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Paul Newman Reference 6263 with Tropical Dial (photo: Phillips)

There are a few other Cosmograph Daytona models set for auction by Phillips later this month, including an "Oyster Sotto" estimated to take in anywhere from $600,000 to $1,200,000 US. For a model configuration that was so unpopular at the time of production, the "Paul Newman" Daytona has certainly come a long way from sitting in stock for years at dealers in the seventies and eighties. Bringing in up to seven figures, it is a testament to the every changing sentiments and tastes of watch collectors over time. For more information on all of the pieces up for auction, visit phillips.com.

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