The 6239 S/S Walt Cunningham ‘Paul Newman Nero’ with Three Colours aka ‘The Lost Moon’

ROLEX. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT STAINLESS STEEL CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BLACK DIAL AND BRACELET

SIGNED ROLEX, COSMOGRAPH, DAYTONA, PAUL NEWMAN MODEL, REF. 6239,
CASE NO. 1’475’765, MANUFACTURED IN 1966

Cal. 722 mechanical movement, 17 jewels, black dial, applied square numerals with luminous accents, luminous hands, chronograph hand with white arrow pointer, outer red ffths of a second divisions, three engine-turned white dials for constant seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours registers, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, blank bezel calibrated for 300 units, screw back, screw down crown, two round chronograph buttons in the band, stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, case, dial and movement signed.

Accompanied with Fain & Co. 8 November 1997 auction catalogue and original sales tag bearing lot number 245. Furthermore delivered with a hand-written letter confrming that the present watch belonged to R. Walter Cunningham, astronaut on Apollo VII and an offcial picture of him from the NASA.

This lot incorporates three features that most appeal to a Rolex Daytona collector, the looks, the condition and its historical
importance.

Not only experienced collectors, but novices as well can recognize at frst glance the beauty and freshness of the Paul Newman dial mounted on this timepiece: the luminous markers are unspoiled; the nearly 50-years-old Rolex Cosmograph and Daytona designations seem to have been printed moments ago; the red outer minute track is immaculate. It is a prime example of an early dial, sporting
the “sing-a-song” T SWISS T designation and the “rounded” Singer punch on the back. The bezel is graduated at 300 which is the correct version for this serial number. Compared to the bezel with the 275 intermediate marking and continuous graduation, its simpler design gives a more sober and masculine look. Lastly, it features the highly rare and sought after “71” bracelet.

Its interest to scholars stems from the fact that it is one of the earliest serial numbers on which a Paul Newman dial has ever been seen. The 1.475.765 serial number indicates that the case was manufactured in late 1966. Rolex started to mount Paul Newman dials on Daytonas in 1967. Half a century ago, the manufacturing process was much slower than today. It was quite common for a case to sit in the company’s workshop for several months before the dial was mounted and the watch was launched into the market. In all likeliness, this is what happened with this timepiece.

Its importance to collectors is further enhanced by the fact that it once belonged to the famous NASA astronaut Walter Cunningham. This historical timepiece was successfully sold at auction in 1997, accompanied, as it is today, by a notarised letter written by Cunningham’s brother stating that the astronaut had the watch on his wrist while in space. This statement, however, can be challenged and has not been confrmed by Mr. Cunningham himself. It is well documented that NASA performed a selection process for their offcial timekeepers from 1963 to 1965, and Omega was the brand chosen by the space agency for their cosmic missions. One can reasonably assume that some staff members, including Walter Cunningham – maybe simply out of personal curiosity – tried different watches over the years, possibly even wearing them during professional training and tests.

Courtesy of Christie's

50 EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLES OF THE WORLD’S MOST CELEBRATED CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH AUCTION

GENEVA – 10 NOVEMBER 2013

LOT 9
ESTIMATE PRICE: SFr.80,000-160,000
PRICE REALIZED: SFr.245,000

www.christies.com