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Lot Essay
Rolex reference 6264 was introduced in 1970 and produced for only three years. Together with reference 6262, it was the last Rolex chronograph watch featuring the simple round push-down buttons. All future chronograph references, starting with references 6263 and 6265 in 1971 bear screw down chronograph buttons. Reference 6264 was available in stainless steel, as well as 14k and 18k gold. It has a bezel with black plastic insert and white tachymeter graduation.
Of all the Rolex Paul Newman watches, the reference 6264 must be considered the rarest. When Rolex introduced their new chronographic caliber 727 in 1969, most of the Daytona line was upgraded. Reference 6239 – pump pushers and metal bezel – became reference 6262, and reference 6241 – pump pushers and black bezel – became the present reference 6264. Reference 6240, with black bezel and screw pushers, did not receive an immediate upgrade. This is probably because the market was originally quite wary of the screw pushers to the point of some customers complaining the prominent buttons would wear down shirt’s cuffs. However, after few years, in 1972, the superior waterproof capabilities of the screw pushers case was fully recognized, and not only reference 6240 was upgraded with the new caliber – spawning two references: 6263 and 6265, with respectively black and metal bezels – but furthermore references 6262 and 6264 were at the same time discontinued. This decision resulted in these two references being the Daytona models with the shortest production run: only 4 years from ’69 to ’72, and consequently among the most difficult to obtain.
The present example is one of the exceeding small numbers of Rolex Daytona's to come to market with the "Musketeer Paul Newman" dial. Upon observation of this pretigious Cosmograph Daytona, one will notice that the subdials are 'vessel shaped,' where the concentric circular threads extend towards the border covering most of the counter's surface but are then met with a blank slanting track. This slope offers the traditional effect but at the same time distinguishes its dial from the rest of the well-known versions with its slight proportional difference to all future productions of the "Paul Newman" dials.
Of all the Rolex Paul Newman watches, the reference 6264 must be considered the rarest. When Rolex introduced their new chronographic caliber 727 in 1969, most of the Daytona line was upgraded. Reference 6239 – pump pushers and metal bezel – became reference 6262, and reference 6241 – pump pushers and black bezel – became the present reference 6264. Reference 6240, with black bezel and screw pushers, did not receive an immediate upgrade. This is probably because the market was originally quite wary of the screw pushers to the point of some customers complaining the prominent buttons would wear down shirt’s cuffs. However, after few years, in 1972, the superior waterproof capabilities of the screw pushers case was fully recognized, and not only reference 6240 was upgraded with the new caliber – spawning two references: 6263 and 6265, with respectively black and metal bezels – but furthermore references 6262 and 6264 were at the same time discontinued. This decision resulted in these two references being the Daytona models with the shortest production run: only 4 years from ’69 to ’72, and consequently among the most difficult to obtain.
The present example is one of the exceeding small numbers of Rolex Daytona's to come to market with the "Musketeer Paul Newman" dial. Upon observation of this pretigious Cosmograph Daytona, one will notice that the subdials are 'vessel shaped,' where the concentric circular threads extend towards the border covering most of the counter's surface but are then met with a blank slanting track. This slope offers the traditional effect but at the same time distinguishes its dial from the rest of the well-known versions with its slight proportional difference to all future productions of the "Paul Newman" dials.