Champagne Paul Newman Dial 6241 Rolex Daytona

The 6241 is a fundamentally interesting Daytona reference, in production for just three years from 1966 until 1969. Introduced concurrently to the 6240 with its relatively ground-breaking screw down pushers and acrylic bezel, this was effectively a 6239 updated to include an acrylic bezel for customers who preferred the classic pump pusher yet liked the new acrylic bezel. In tandem with the 6240, these were the first-ever acrylic bezels. It was shortly succeeded by the transitional, high beat rate 6264. Most estimate roughly 2000 were produced in steel, and roughly 750 in yellow gold (450 in 14k, 300 in 18k). And then there’s the dial here.

Photography for this Find is of a prior sale, courtesy of Phillips. 

Yellow gold 6241 could be fitted with black or champagne exotic or Paul Newman bicolor dials, signed T Swiss T and Daytona. 14k was created for the American market but 18k usually demands a premium, as this example is. Interestingly most champagne dials occur within a tight serial range, thought to have been made in one batch around the 2’112’9XX area.

The spread of auction results for champagne PN 6241 can be bewildering at first glance, from a near 1M USD result at Phillips May 2023 in a down market to half that one year later. Most all the variance you see is attributable to condition directly. Case strength is nice to see (bonus points for oxidation), warm correct tritium is nice to see, and there must be the correct points on the dial. Champagne dials are not the same as Lemon dials we see a little later in 6264. Note the lighter tone, gilt subdial print, signature, and even chronograph hand. All vary. And Those little points sum to huge value differences. They are not quite in JPS or Lemon territory yet in price, but not far behind. Certainly, these are some of the more special Paul Newmans made.

This example appears excellent, with a well-preserved dial and strong hallmarks. Caseback exhibits light oxidation patina which we love to see. It comes from a well-regarded Italian retailer.