John Player Special, a limited-edition Rolex Daytona model that was unveiled at Sotheby’s, sold for slightly over $1.5 million, which is surprisingly yet another world record for the watch. This unique piece, which is a 6264 in 18K yellow gold, is the only known Paul Newman yellow gold Daytona in 8K. Since there are only about ten known pieces of this kind of watches, the collection value of such items among vintage watches becomes tremendous and quite straightforward.
In addition to being so hard to find, the Rolex John Player Special model Daytona is a highly sought-after piece for several reasons. The watch stands out from the pack due to its stunning design, which is based on the alluring contrast of black and gold. This concept, along with the fact that it comes from an era of Formula 1 that is perceived as very glamourous, creates a major competition between the fans of watches among whom the love for classic automobiles is prevalent. The Rolex Daytona, in particular one with this very limited feature, offers a great marriage of the craft of timekeeping and motoring, and for this reason is a much sought after model.
This last sale draws attention to the ideal Rolex Daytona, its reliability and its high level of demand evidenced by its unique and rare forms. The John Player Special is an interesting indicator as to how well the luxury watches do on the secondary market and specifically the fulfilment that customers derive from owning several watches. In the meantime, the fans from around the world continue to take pleasure in the historical allusions of the brand to sports or film for example, hence making every newly found artefact a stunning event and maternity in the world of horology.
Sotheby’s Geneva Sets New World Record with Sale of Rare Rolex Daytona “John Player Special”
Sotheby’s Geneva just set a record loose hammer price yesterday with its auction on a yellow gold Rolex Daytona “John Player Special” (ref. 6241) fetching an impressive CHF 2,238,000 ($2,491,655). This stunning watch, the best example representing itself before anyone seen in over 10 years, finally goes down as the third most expensive gold Paul Newman Daytona, the fourth most expensive Paul Newman in any metal and the fifth most expensive manual-wound Daytona ever sold at auction.
The Rolex Daytona Legacy
This year is the 60th anniversary of the vintage Rolex Daytona, which has mutated into more than just a collector’s fetish. Originally, the different dials proved to be confusing for many watch lovers, and the exotic dolphins wowed them even more, particularly the innovative “Paul Newman” versions inspired by the famous Hollywood icon. Among all references, it is “John Player Special” (JPS) that is considered literally a unique species. Its black, gold-and-black color scheme has taken its cue from the all-iconic John Player Special cigarette turbulence and the Team Lotus Formula 1 livery of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Seemingly, it is one of those hidden grails that professional old watches are looking for everywhere.
A Unique and Coveted Design
The JPS nickname shoots from the visual contrast of the black dial surrounded in gold for the subsidiary dials in the gold outer rim. It is perfectly the opposite of the designer’s inspiration, which was the famous Formula 1 car. Out of an assumed 3,000 ref. 6241 Daytonas ever built, only about 300 have gold cases. A far smaller number would feature the highly coveted JPS dial. Altogether, this makes JPS one of the most desirables of all references in the Rolex stable.
Fierce Bidding for a Rare Gem
The auction for this 1969 Daytona saw intense competition, with seven bidders – two online, two on the phone, and three in the room – battling over eight minutes. The watch ultimately sold for nearly double its initial estimate of CHF 600,000…1,200,000.
Mikael Wallhagen, Sotheby’s Geneva Head of Watches, remarked on the exceptional quality of the piece:
“This is the best example of this reference I have ever seen, and its condition is staggeringly good for a watch nearly 55 years old. All its parts are intact, and it has never been serviced. This Daytona unicorn is the perfect way to crown our Important Watches sale, celebrating 60 years of the Daytona’s legacy.”
A Timepiece Untouched by Time
Rolex did not ever complete any maintenance on this particular watch from John Player. Astonishingly, it was in effect new for almost 50 years, remaining in original condition and belonged to the original family until the time of its placing on market.
A Celebration of Luxury
It was an extraordinary Sotheby’s Luxury Week auction event with some of the world’s most astounding timepieces. The Important Timepieces Sale was made available on Sotheby’s website online in a digital format, ending on the same day.
But with its great history, rarity, and a perfect status, the “John Player Special” Daytona simply writes another chapter into horological history that establishes higher demands for Rolex aficionados worldwide.
