A replica of the Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 "Paul Newman" copies a hand-wound steel chronograph that Rolex made from 1963. The original has a 37 mm case, a steel tachymeter bezel, pump pushers, no date, and a two-tone "exotic" dial. Most replicas fail on three points: the movement, the subdial spacing, and the dial print. Prices start near $90 for quartz versions and reach $700 and up for hand-wound copies built on a Seagull ST19.
The original reference 6239
Rolex introduced the 6239 in 1963. It was the first Daytona to move the tachymeter scale from the dial to the bezel. The case measures 37 mm across, with 19 mm lugs, a domed acrylic crystal, and push pushers that do not screw down. Inside sits the hand-wound caliber 722, a column wheel chronograph built on the Valjoux 72 design. The dial carries three subdials: running seconds at 9, a 30 minute counter at 3, and a 12 hour counter at 6.
The exotic dial, later called Paul Newman, uses contrasting subdial rings with a stepped outer edge, a 1/5 second scale with square markers, and different hour markers. Buyers in the 1960s ordered it in small numbers. Standard dial 6239s outsold it by a wide margin, which is why the exotic version is rare today.
The nickname comes from Paul Newman, who wore one that Joanne Woodward gave him. The caseback carries the engraving "Drive Carefully Me". His watch sold at Phillips in October 2017 for $17,752,500.
Paul Newman is a dial, not a case
Sellers often use the name for any vintage Daytona copy. That is wrong. A 6239 with a standard dial is not a Paul Newman. The name covers the exotic dial only. The same dial appeared on refs. 6241, 6262, 6264, and 6265.
What better replicas get right
- Case size near 37 mm with 19 mm lugs.
- Domed acrylic crystal on the better builds, sapphire on cheaper ones.
- Engraved steel tachymeter bezel with the 500 to 60 scale.
- Three subdials in the Rolex layout and no date window.
- Pump pusher shape and drilled lugs on the higher tiers.
Where replicas fail
- Movement. The 6239 is hand-wound. Cheap copies use an automatic movement with a rotor and a decorated bridge that fakes the look of a vintage calibre.
- Thickness. Original cases measure about 13 mm. Copies built on a 7750 run 14 mm to 15 mm.
- Subdial function. Check that the 9 o'clock subdial is running seconds and the 3 o'clock subdial counts 30 minutes. Some copies slave all three hands to the chronograph.
- Dial print. Look at the weight of "DAYTONA" above the 6 o'clock subdial and the spacing of "COSMOGRAPH". Copies use wide spacing and heavy ink.
- Subdial rings. Original rings are stepped and narrow. Copies print flat rings that reach the center.
- Caseback. Original stampings inside read 6239 with a reference and a date code. Copies use generic stampings.
Price tiers
- Quartz, $80 to $150. Wrong movement, printed subdials, often a 39 mm case.
- Automatic 7750 family, $200 to $450. Working chronograph, thick case, wrong rotor.
- Hand-wound ST19, $350 to $700. Closest match inside the caseback. Confirm subdial function before paying.
- Modified or reworked movements, $700 and up. Batch quality varies. Two watches from one seller can differ in dial print.
How to check a listing
- Ask for the case thickness in millimeters.
- Ask for a photo of the movement with the caseback off.
- Ask which subdial counts minutes.
- Compare the dial photo with auction archive photos of a 6239 exotic dial shot at the same angle.
Legal note for US buyers
US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at import. Selling a counterfeit marked with a live trademark is illegal under 18 U.S.C. 2320. Personal import carries seizure risk and forfeiture of the goods.