Some watches arrive at auction with a story already written. A steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 6241 with a black “Paul Newman” dial, consigned by the family of its original owner and still with its box and papers, sold for €448,000 (about $500,700) at Sotheby’s Paris on October 7, 2026, almost twice its €120,000–260,000 estimate, after 15 bids, Haute Time reported on October 9.
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At a glance
- Sale: Sotheby’s Fine Watches, Paris, a timed online auction, September 23 to October 7, 2026.
- Top lot: Lot 368, Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman” ref. 6241, steel, circa 1968.
- Result: €448,000 with buyer’s premium (about $500,700); hammer €350,000; estimate €120,000–260,000.
- Provenance: consigned by the family of the original owner, with box, papers and guarantee card.
- Runner-up: F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain in platinum, €307,200 (about $343,400).
What sold at Sotheby’s Paris Fine Watches?
Lot 368 was a 36mm steel Daytona reference 6241 from around 1968, with a black acrylic bezel, a manually wound calibre 722-1 and an Oyster bracelet. Sotheby’s described the dial as a “black-on-black” configuration, according to Haute Time’s preview, and the watch came with its box, papers, guarantee card and presentation case. By October 2 it had already passed its low estimate online with the reserve met. On closing day it went on to a hammer price of €350,000, or €448,000 once the buyer’s premium was added.
The rest of the timed sale was a useful reading of the market. Lot 367, an F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain in platinum from around 2014, a chronograph that measures to the hundredth of a second, reached €307,200 (about $343,400) against €150,000–300,000 after seven bids. Lot 374, a white gold Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116749SABLNR set with diamonds and sapphires, made €153,600 (about $171,700). A Rolex Sea-Dweller “Comex” reference 1665 from around 1979 sold for €102,400 on a single bid at its low estimate, all per Haute Time.
The liveliest bidding came lower down. A Patek Philippe Lady Ellipse reference 4105/1 from around 1970, a gold secret-dial watch set with diamonds and rubies, drew 27 bids and reached €44,800 against a €7,000 low estimate. A Patek Philippe grand complication pocket watch from around 1873 sold for €57,600 against €15,000–30,000.
Why is it called a “Paul Newman” Daytona?
Rolex introduced the Cosmograph Daytona in the early 1960s as a racing chronograph, named for the speedway at Daytona Beach, here in Florida. Alongside the standard dials, Rolex offered what it then called “exotic” dials, with Art Deco-style numerals and square-tipped markers in the subdials. They sold slowly at the time. Collectors later named them after the actor Paul Newman, who wore a Daytona with this style of dial for years, and the nickname became the most valuable phrase in vintage watch collecting.
Paul Newman’s own Daytona, a reference 6239 given to him by his wife Joanne Woodward, sold at Phillips in New York in October 2017 for about $17.8 million, at the time a record for a wristwatch at auction. That sale fixed the nickname in the public imagination and lifted the whole category with it. The 6241, made for only a few years in the late 1960s, is distinguished from the 6239 by its black acrylic bezel and pump pushers, and its short production run is one reason well-documented examples are so prized.
In vintage watches, a family that kept the papers is often worth as much as the dial itself.
Why did this Daytona double its estimate?
In our view, three things came together. First, it was fresh to market: a watch that has stayed with one family since new carries no history of being traded, polished or re-dialed between dealers. Second, it was complete, and for a vintage Daytona the box, papers and guarantee card are evidence of originality as much as accessories. Third, the black-on-black dial is rarer and, to many eyes, more graceful than the common white “panda” version.
The price also fits a wider pattern from the first week of October. At Phillips New York, a Voutilainen 28Sport made just over $1 million against a $120,000–240,000 estimate, as we reported in our story on that sale, and F.P. Journe pieces performed strongly across Paris, New York and Hong Kong. Our preview of the Antiquorum New York watch auction shows how far Journe has come. Fresh, original watches with clear provenance continue to attract real competition; ordinary examples are meeting estimates rather than exceeding them.
For the Collector
- Price context: €448,000 including premium places this 6241 well above its estimate. Confirm final figures on the official Sotheby’s sale page; dollar amounts here are approximate conversions at the time of writing.
- What drives value: the dial (exotic versus standard, and its condition), originality of hands, bezel and pushers, an unpolished case, and documented provenance. Box and papers can add a meaningful premium.
- What to watch for: “Paul Newman” dials have long attracted replacement and refinished examples. Ask for a condition report, request macro photographs of the dial and movement, and consider an independent specialist opinion before bidding. Our watchmaker’s checklist for pre-owned watches covers the basics.
- Where to buy: vintage Daytonas appear regularly at the major houses’ watch sales in Geneva, New York and Hong Kong, and with established vintage dealers. Rolex boutiques sell only current models.
- On resale: strong recent results are encouraging, but past prices do not predict future value, and a watch should be bought first because you want to wear it.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the Paul Newman Daytona sell for at Sotheby’s Paris?
Lot 368, a Rolex Daytona reference 6241, sold for €448,000 including buyer’s premium (about $500,700) on October 7, 2026, against an estimate of €120,000–260,000.
What is a Rolex Daytona reference 6241?
It is a manually wound steel Cosmograph Daytona made in the late 1960s, recognizable by its black acrylic bezel and pump pushers. Examples with “Paul Newman” exotic dials are among the most sought-after vintage Rolex watches.
Why are box and papers important for a vintage Rolex?
Original box, papers and guarantee card help document a watch’s origin and originality, and collectors generally pay more for complete, single-owner examples.
What was the most expensive Paul Newman Daytona ever sold?
Paul Newman’s own Daytona reference 6239 sold at Phillips New York in October 2017 for about $17.8 million.
Sources: Haute Time, October watch auction results · Haute Time, October auction preview · Sotheby’s, Fine Watches, Paris
