Rolex

Paul Newman Daytonas, as affectionately known within the watch community, are characterised by their distinctive Art Deco-style dials, officially referred to as 'exotic dials.' These dials were rumored to have appeared in as few as 1 in 20 manual-winding Daytona models from the 1960s to the 1980s. Initially, these watches did not garner much attention from the market but in the late 1980s, a group of Italian watch dealers and collectors coined the term 'Paul Newman' after the legendary American actor was photographed wearing his own reference 6239 on multiple occasions. Since then, the demand and market value for Paul Newman Daytonas have skyrocketed.

The reference 6239, based on the earlier reference 6238, was introduced to the American market in 1963 and was the first Daytona model to bear the "Cosmograph" dial designation. One significant design change from the 6238 was the relocation of the Tachymeter scale - used for measuring distance over time - to the bezel, resulting in a 1mm increase in the watch's diameter. This allowed for more intricate and diverse dial designs, exemplified by the iconic 'exotic' dial configurations. These dials were produced by Singer and came in either a two-colored dial in white or black or a three-colored dial in white or black with red accents, instantly recognizable as some of the most iconic designs ever created.