Reference:daytona-glossary: Difference between revisions

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'''Paul Newman dial.''' Singer-made Cosmograph dial with art-deco block markers, cross-hairs on the sub-dials, and 15/30/45 numerals on the 30-minute register. Fitted to six manual-wind references: [[Reference:6239|6239]], [[Reference:6241|6241]], [[Reference:6262|6262]], [[Reference:6263|6263]], [[Reference:6264|6264]], and [[Reference:6265|6265]]. Full treatment on [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona|Paul Newman Daytona]].
'''Paul Newman dial.''' Singer-made Cosmograph dial with art-deco block markers, cross-hairs on the sub-dials, and 15/30/45 numerals on the 30-minute register. Fitted to six manual-wind references: [[Reference:6239|6239]], [[Reference:6241|6241]], [[Reference:6262|6262]], [[Reference:6263|6263]], [[Reference:6264|6264]], and [[Reference:6265|6265]]. Full treatment on [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona|Paul Newman Daytona]].


'''Mk1 through Mk4.''' Collector shorthand for the four main Paul Newman dial generations. Mk1 has no Daytona line, Mk2 adds it, Mk3 is the Big Eyes generation, and Mk4 is the late narrow-marker run. See [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona#mark-1-through-mark-4-progression|the full progression table]].
'''Mk1 through Mk4.''' Collector shorthand for the four main Paul Newman dial generations. Mk1 has no Daytona line, Mk2 adds it, Mk3 is the Big Eyes generation, and Mk4 is the late narrow-marker run. See [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona#Mark_1_through_Mark_4_progression|the full progression table]].


'''Big Eyes.''' The Mk3 sub-mark of the Paul Newman dial, named for the visually larger sub-dial outer rings. 1969–1972 production.
'''Big Eyes.''' The Mk3 sub-mark of the Paul Newman dial, named for the visually larger sub-dial outer rings. 1969–1972 production.
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'''JPS (John Player Special).''' Paul Newman dial on a yellow gold case with black ground and gold-toned sub-dial surrounds and hour markers, named for the John Player Special-sponsored Lotus F1 team livery of the 1970s. The 14k yellow gold [[Reference:6241|6241]] is the most populous JPS host (fewer than 400 produced, North American market).
'''JPS (John Player Special).''' Paul Newman dial on a yellow gold case with black ground and gold-toned sub-dial surrounds and hour markers, named for the John Player Special-sponsored Lotus F1 team livery of the 1970s. The 14k yellow gold [[Reference:6241|6241]] is the most populous JPS host (fewer than 400 produced, North American market).


'''Lemon dial.''' Yellow lacquer full-dial finish fitted to rare gold-case 6263 and 6265 examples. Per Revolution's 2017 Ridley bench dissection, gold-case Paul Newman Daytonas are always the Lemon variant, with rare RCO exceptions.
'''Lemon dial.''' Yellow lacquer full-dial finish fitted to rare gold-case 6263 and 6265 examples. Bob Ridley's 2017 bench examination of a gold 6241 for ''Revolution'' reports that gold-case Paul Newman Daytonas are always the Lemon variant, the rare RCO examples aside.


=== 6263 / 6265 specialty dials ===
=== 6263 / 6265 specialty dials ===
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'''Big Red Daytona.''' Standard 6263 dial with "DAYTONA" printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced ~1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own 6263 — a Big Red — sold Phillips NY December 2020 for USD 5.48M. See [[Reference:6263|6263]].
'''Big Red Daytona.''' Standard 6263 dial with "DAYTONA" printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced ~1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own 6263 — a Big Red — sold Phillips NY December 2020 for USD 5.48M. See [[Reference:6263|6263]].


'''Floating Big Red.''' Transitional variant where the DAYTONA text sits visibly further from the sub-dial than on standard Big Red. Rare and commands a meaningful premium.
'''Floating Big Red.''' Transitional variant where the DAYTONA text sits visibly further from the sub-dial than on standard Big Red. Rare, and it carries a meaningful premium.


'''Small Red.''' Late-1980s variant where the red DAYTONA is rendered in a noticeably smaller font than the Big Red. See [[Reference:6263|6263]] and [[Reference:6265|6265]].
'''Small Red.''' Late-1980s variant where the red DAYTONA is rendered in a noticeably smaller font than the Big Red. See [[Reference:6263|6263]] and [[Reference:6265|6265]].
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'''Sigma dial.''' Dial with σσ symbols flanking SWISS at the 6 o'clock chapter, denoting gold-applied hour markers. Swiss-industry convention for identifying precious-metal components. Appears ~1972–1978 across both [[Reference:6263|6263]] and [[Reference:6265|6265]].
'''Sigma dial.''' Dial with σσ symbols flanking SWISS at the 6 o'clock chapter, denoting gold-applied hour markers. Swiss-industry convention for identifying precious-metal components. Appears ~1972–1978 across both [[Reference:6263|6263]] and [[Reference:6265|6265]].


'''Albino 6263.''' White-on-white monochromatic dial: silver sub-dials on a white base, bearing only "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph" without the standard "Daytona" wording. Three known examples. Authenticity is contested. Hodinkee (Clymer 2013) treats it as a factory Rolex variant; Perezcope (2025) reads it as a 1990s Tom Bolt construction. See [[Reference:6263|6263]].
'''Albino 6263.''' White-on-white monochromatic dial: silver sub-dials on a white base, bearing only "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph" without the standard "Daytona" wording. Three known examples. Authenticity is contested. Benjamin Clymer's 2013 Hodinkee piece treats it as a factory Rolex variant; Jose Pereztroika at Perezcope (2025) reads it as a 1990s Tom Bolt construction. See [[Reference:6263|6263]].


'''Tropical.''' Production-period black dial that oxidised to brown under UV exposure or heat. Aged production dials valued for patina rather than a separate factory variant. Distinct from Patrizzi, which affects only the sub-dial outer rings.
'''Tropical.''' Production-period black dial that oxidised to brown under UV exposure or heat. These are aged production dials valued for their patina, not a factory variant in their own right. Distinct from Patrizzi, which affects only the sub-dial outer rings.


'''Double Swiss Underline.''' Earliest [[Reference:6239|6239]] production with a line under "SWISS" at the dial base and a second "SWISS" printed just above — radium-era markings transitioning out.
'''Double Swiss Underline.''' Earliest [[Reference:6239|6239]] production with a line under "SWISS" at the dial base and a second "SWISS" printed just above, marking the transition out of radium.


=== 6238 / 6240 specialty dials ===
=== 6238 / 6240 specialty dials ===


'''Neanderthal 6240.''' Disputed dial configuration presented at Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 as the earliest Paul Newman prototype. Perezcope's 2022 dossier reads the dial as a late-1990s construction off a 6238 donor, citing the April 1998 ''Orologi & Market''. Both positions on record. See [[Reference:6240|6240]].
'''Neanderthal 6240.''' Disputed dial configuration presented at Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 as the earliest Paul Newman prototype. Pereztroika's 2022 dossier reads the dial as a late-1990s construction off a 6238 donor, citing the April 1998 ''Orologi & Market''. Both positions are on record. See [[Reference:6240|6240]].


=== 6265 specialty dials ===
=== 6265 specialty dials ===


'''Unicorn 6265.''' The only known white gold 6265 (case 2877587, manufactured 1970). Sold CHF 5,937,500 at Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018, second-highest Rolex auction result at the time. Perezcope's 2022 Frankenstein analysis disputes authenticity from 2010 Instagram photographs and millerighe pusher detail. Both positions on record. See [[Reference:6265|6265]].
'''Unicorn 6265.''' The only known white gold 6265 (case 2877587, manufactured 1970). Sold CHF 5,937,500 at Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018, second-highest Rolex auction result at the time. Pereztroika's 2022 Frankenstein analysis disputes authenticity from 2010 Instagram photographs and millerighe pusher detail. Both readings remain on record. See [[Reference:6265|6265]].


=== Middle Eastern commissions ===
=== Middle Eastern commissions ===


'''Sultan of Oman Khanjar.''' 6263 / 6265 examples carrying the Omani red Khanjar (curved dagger) emblem above the 6 o'clock sub-dial. Made in small numbers for Sultan Qaboos mid-1970s. Some examples carry Asprey signature. A Khanjar 6263 with Asprey signature sold USD 864,521 at Christie's Lesson One, Geneva, November 2013.
'''Sultan of Oman Khanjar.''' 6263 / 6265 examples carrying the Omani red Khanjar (curved dagger) emblem above the 6 o'clock sub-dial. Made in small numbers for Sultan Qaboos in the mid-1970s. Some examples carry Asprey signature. A Khanjar 6263 with Asprey signature sold USD 864,521 at Christie's Lesson One, Geneva, November 2013.


'''UAE Quraysh Hawk.''' 6263 example carrying the UAE military emblem (Hawk of Quraish with Arabic script reading "UAE armed forces") at 6 o'clock. Made for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during his UAE defence ministry tenure. Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 Lot 13, estimate CHF 200,000–400,000.
'''UAE Quraysh Hawk.''' 6263 example carrying the UAE military emblem (Hawk of Quraish with Arabic script reading "UAE armed forces") at 6 o'clock. Made for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during his UAE defence ministry tenure. Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 Lot 13, estimate CHF 200,000–400,000.
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'''MK1 Floating Cosmograph Porcelain.''' First-year R-serial (1988) [[Reference:16520|16520]]-generation dial. Extra space between COSMOGRAPH and the next four lines; inverted 6 in the 9 o'clock hour totaliser; porcelain / glossy finish. The 16520 variant whose values have moved hardest since 2015.
'''MK1 Floating Cosmograph Porcelain.''' First-year R-serial (1988) [[Reference:16520|16520]]-generation dial. Extra space between COSMOGRAPH and the next four lines; inverted 6 in the 9 o'clock hour totaliser; porcelain / glossy finish. The 16520 variant whose values have moved hardest since 2015.


'''MK2 Floating 4-Liner.''' L-serial (1989–1990) dial. OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line missing — dial reads four lines of text instead of five. Documented paired with the early 50-200 "UNITS PER HOUR" bezel in the Cattin Collection photography.
'''MK2 Floating 4-Liner.''' L-serial (1989–1990) dial. OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line missing — dial reads four lines of text instead of five. Photographed alongside the early 50–200 "UNITS PER HOUR" bezel in Luca Garbati's images of the Cattin Collection.


'''MK3 Inverted 6.''' E/N/X/C-serial (1990–1992). Inverted 6 in the 9 o'clock sub-dial; OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED restored.
'''MK3 Inverted 6.''' E/N/X/C-serial (1990–1992). Inverted 6 in the 9 o'clock sub-dial; OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED restored.
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'''MK4 Corrected 6.''' S/T-serial (1993–1996). Corrected 6 orientation; T SWISS T tritium markings; Patrizzi sub-dial varnish reaction eligibility window starts here.
'''MK4 Corrected 6.''' S/T-serial (1993–1996). Corrected 6 orientation; T SWISS T tritium markings; Patrizzi sub-dial varnish reaction eligibility window starts here.


'''MK5, MK6.''' Late-tritium T/U-serial (1996–1998). Mazzariol's original five-mark typology collapses MK5 and MK6 into one; the seven-mark expansion remains contested.
'''MK5, MK6.''' Late-tritium T/U-serial (1996–1998). Stefano Mazzariol's original five-mark typology, relayed by Ross Povey in ''Revolution'' (2018), collapses MK5 and MK6 into one; the seven-mark expansion remains contested.


'''MK7.''' U/A/P-serial (1998–2000). Super-LumiNova replaces tritium; SWISS MADE replaces T SWISS T.
'''MK7.''' U/A/P-serial (1998–2000). Super-LumiNova replaces tritium; SWISS MADE replaces T SWISS T.
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'''Patrizzi dial.''' Zenith-era dial where the varnish over the silver sub-dial rings turns brown. Named for Osvaldo Patrizzi. Window sits in the mid-1990s by most accounts. Genuine Patrizzi ageing usually runs uneven across the three sub-dials; a perfectly even effect should be treated with suspicion.
'''Patrizzi dial.''' Zenith-era dial where the varnish over the silver sub-dial rings turns brown. Named for Osvaldo Patrizzi. Window sits in the mid-1990s by most accounts. Genuine Patrizzi ageing usually runs uneven across the three sub-dials; a perfectly even effect should be treated with suspicion.


'''Darth Vader.''' 16520 variant where the silver sub-dial chapter rings have faded to a near-black tone, the inverse of the Patrizzi browning. Documented by Sotheby's (Orrico 2025).
'''Darth Vader.''' 16520 variant where the silver sub-dial chapter rings have faded to a near-black tone, the inverse of the Patrizzi browning. Documented by Karyn Orrico in Sotheby's Zenith Daytona guide (2025).


'''Le Roi Soleil 16518.''' The only known Van Cleef & Arpels-signed 16518 — locally-printed VCA logo with paint-drip authentication detail, VCA letter-of-provenance with 1995 sale date. Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 Lot 18, estimate CHF 50,000–100,000. See [[Reference:16518|16518]].
'''Le Roi Soleil 16518.''' The only known Van Cleef & Arpels-signed 16518 — locally-printed VCA logo with paint-drip authentication detail, VCA letter-of-provenance with 1995 sale date. Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 Lot 18, estimate CHF 50,000–100,000. See [[Reference:16518|16518]].
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=== In-house cal 4130 era dials ===
=== In-house cal 4130 era dials ===


'''APH error dial.''' 116520 variant with a visible kerning gap between "Cosmogr" and "aph" in the dial text, from an Asia-Pacific Hong Kong dial batch 2009 onward. Documented by Phillips's Logan Baker. Carries a small market premium despite being a misprint. See [[Reference:116520|116520]].
'''APH error dial.''' 116520 variant with a visible kerning gap between "Cosmogr" and "aph" in the dial text, first seen on white dials in 2009 and black in 2010. Documented by Phillips's Logan Baker. Carries a small market premium despite being a misprint. See [[Reference:116520|116520]].


'''2011 GT Champion 116523.''' Grey-rhodium soleil dial on a G-serial (circa 2010) 116523 presented to TRG / Nadeau Motorsports for their GT-class win at the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Crown Royal Cask No. 16. Caseback engraved with the 2011 GT Champion mark. See [[Reference:116523|116523]].
'''2011 GT Champion 116523.''' Grey-rhodium soleil dial on a G-serial (circa 2010) 116523 presented to The Racer's Group for the #67 Porsche's GT-class win at the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Crown Royal Cask No. 16. Caseback engraved with the 2011 GT Champion mark. See [[Reference:116523|116523]].


'''Mexican red dial.''' Late-production 116528 sub-branch — black lacquer dial with red DAYTONA script more prominent than the standard configuration. See [[Reference:116528|116528]].
'''Mexican red dial.''' Late-production 116528 sub-branch — black lacquer dial with red DAYTONA script more prominent than the standard configuration. See [[Reference:116528|116528]].
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== Movement ==
== Movement ==


'''Valjoux 72.''' Manual-wind chronograph base movement used in the Daytona from [[Reference:6238|6238]] in 1962 through the [[Reference:6263|6263]] / [[Reference:6265|6265]] in 1988. Rolex modifications produced calibres 722, 722-1, and 727 across the generation.
'''Valjoux 72.''' Manual-wind chronograph base movement used in the Daytona from [[Reference:6238|6238]] in 1962 through the [[Reference:6263|6263]] / [[Reference:6265|6265]] in 1988. Rolex modifications produced calibers 722, 722-1, and 727 across the generation.


'''Cal 722.''' Early Rolex designation on the Valjoux 72 base, 18,000 vph. Used in the [[Reference:6238|6238]] and early [[Reference:6239|6239]] production.
'''Cal 722.''' Early Rolex designation on the Valjoux 72 base, 18,000 vph. Used in the [[Reference:6238|6238]] and early [[Reference:6239|6239]] production.
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'''78390.''' Zenith-era Oyster successor to the 78360, 1993–2000. Used on the 16520 from S-serial 1993 through end of production.
'''78390.''' Zenith-era Oyster successor to the 78360, 1993–2000. Used on the 16520 from S-serial 1993 through end of production.


'''78490.''' In-house era SEL Oyster bracelet. Used on the [[Reference:116520|116520]] 2000–2016. Some aggregator listings give 78690, but that reference belongs to the Explorer 14270 bracelet; 78490 is the consensus identification for the 116520.
'''78490.''' In-house era SEL Oyster bracelet. Used on the [[Reference:116520|116520]] 2000–2016. 78690 turns up in some listings, but that reference belongs to the Explorer 14270 bracelet; 78490 is the consensus identification for the 116520.


'''Oysterlock.''' Rolex's safety clasp with a folding cover over a folding clasp. Multiple generations across the Daytona run.
'''Oysterlock.''' Rolex's safety clasp with a folding cover over a folding clasp. Multiple generations across the Daytona run.
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'''Twinlock.''' Earlier screw-down crown sealing on two rubber gaskets. Used on manual-wind Daytona (6239 onward) before the Triplock arrived with the Zenith generation.
'''Twinlock.''' Earlier screw-down crown sealing on two rubber gaskets. Used on manual-wind Daytona (6239 onward) before the Triplock arrived with the Zenith generation.


'''Screw-down pushers.''' Chronograph pushers that lock to prevent accidental actuation underwater. Introduced on the [[Reference:6240|6240]] (1965) and the defining feature of the screw-pusher Oyster Daytona: [[Reference:6240|6240]], [[Reference:6263|6263]], [[Reference:6265|6265]], and every subsequent Daytona reference.
'''Screw-down pushers.''' Chronograph pushers that lock to prevent accidental actuation underwater. Introduced on the [[Reference:6240|6240]] in 1965, and the feature that defines the screw-pusher Oyster Daytona line: the [[Reference:6240|6240]], [[Reference:6263|6263]], [[Reference:6265|6265]], and every subsequent Daytona reference.


'''Pump pushers.''' Non-screw-down chronograph pushers. Used on the earlier [[Reference:6239|6239]], [[Reference:6241|6241]], [[Reference:6262|6262]], and [[Reference:6264|6264]].
'''Pump pushers.''' Non-screw-down chronograph pushers. Used on the earlier [[Reference:6239|6239]], [[Reference:6241|6241]], [[Reference:6262|6262]], and [[Reference:6264|6264]].


'''Engraved metal tachymetre bezel.''' Tachymetre scale engraved directly into the bezel metal (steel or precious metal). Defines the [[Reference:6239|6239]], [[Reference:6262|6262]], [[Reference:6264|6264]], [[Reference:6265|6265]], and the Zenith and in-house gen-1 steel references.
'''Engraved metal tachymetre bezel.''' Tachymetre scale engraved directly into the bezel metal (steel or precious metal). Defines the [[Reference:6239|6239]], [[Reference:6262|6262]], [[Reference:6265|6265]], and the Zenith and in-house gen-1 steel references.


'''Acrylic bezel insert.''' Aluminium insert with the tachymetre printed on acrylic, fitted into the bezel. Defines the [[Reference:6240|6240]], [[Reference:6241|6241]], and [[Reference:6263|6263]].
'''Acrylic bezel insert.''' Black acrylic insert carrying a printed tachymetric scale, fitted into the bezel. Defines the [[Reference:6240|6240]], [[Reference:6241|6241]], [[Reference:6263|6263]], and [[Reference:6264|6264]] — the 6264 is the acrylic-bezel sibling of the engraved-metal [[Reference:6262|6262]].


'''Cerachrom.''' Ceramic bezel introduced on the 116500LN in 2016. Every Daytona reference through the 116520 generation uses a steel or gold engraved tachymetre bezel; the ceramic insert sits with the post-2016 generation.
'''Cerachrom.''' Rolex's ceramic bezel material. It reached the Cosmograph in 2011 on the Everose-gold [[Reference:116515LN|116515LN]], then the platinum [[Reference:116506|116506]] in 2013, and steel in 2016 with the [[Reference:116500LN|116500LN]]. The steel and Rolesor [[Reference:116520|116520]]-generation references kept an engraved metal tachymetre bezel throughout.


'''Acrylic crystal.''' Plexiglass crystal used on every manual-wind Daytona (6238 through 6265). Replaced by sapphire at the 16520 generation (1988).
'''Acrylic crystal.''' Plexiglass crystal used on every manual-wind Daytona (6238 through 6265). Replaced by sapphire at the 16520 generation (1988).
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'''Phillips Winning Icons, New York, 26 October 2017.''' Paul Newman's own 6239 MK1 sold for USD 17,752,500 — the highest price paid for any Rolex at public auction. See [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona|Paul Newman Daytona]].
'''Phillips Winning Icons, New York, 26 October 2017.''' Paul Newman's own 6239 MK1 sold for USD 17,752,500 — the highest price paid for any Rolex at public auction. See [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona|Paul Newman Daytona]].


'''Phillips New York, 12 December 2020.''' Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263, engraved "Drive slowly Dad," sold for USD 5,475,000.
'''Phillips New York, 12 December 2020.''' Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263, its caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" by Joanne Woodward, who bought the watch for him in 1983. Newman gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund in 2008; the lot sold for USD 5,475,000. The engraving is the companion to the "DRIVE CAREFULLY ME" Woodward had put on his [[Reference:6239|6239]] fifteen years earlier.


'''Christie's Lesson One, Geneva, 10 November 2013.''' The first Paul Newman to breach seven figures at auction — an Oyster Sotto 6263 hammered at about USD 1.089M.
'''Christie's Lesson One, Geneva, 10 November 2013.''' The first Paul Newman to breach seven figures at auction — an Oyster Sotto 6263 hammered at about USD 1.089M.


== Related references ==
== Related references ==
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* [[Reference:16520|Daytona 16520]] — first automatic (Zenith)
* [[Reference:16520|Daytona 16520]] — first automatic (Zenith)
* [[Reference:116500LN|Daytona 116500LN]] — the ceramic-bezel modern Daytona
* [[Reference:116500LN|Daytona 116500LN]] — the ceramic-bezel modern Daytona
== Sources ==
* [https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/CH080318 Daytona Ultimatum, Geneva, 12 May 2018] — Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, curated by Pucci Papaleo (auction catalogue)
* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/NY080117/8 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6239, Lot 8, Winning Icons] — Phillips, New York, 26 October 2017
* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/NY080120/38 Rolex Ref. 6263 Cosmograph Daytona "Big Red", Lot 38] — Phillips, New York, 12 December 2020 (case 6'392'137, sold USD 5,475,000)
* [https://watchesbysjx.com/2013/11/spectacular-results-at-christies-rolex-daytona-lesson-one-auction-in-geneva-including-a-million-dollar-paul-newman.html Spectacular Results at Christie's Rolex Daytona "Lesson One" Auction] — Richard Lee, SJX Watches (2013)
* [https://revolutionwatch.com/a-movement-in-history-the-zenith-driven-rolex-daytona/ A Movement in History: The Zenith-driven Rolex Daytona] — Ross Povey, Revolution (2018)
* [https://revolutionwatch.com/rolex-john-player-special-paul-newman-daytona-ref-6241/ The Rolex "John Player Special" Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6241] — Bob Ridley, Revolution (2017)
* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-rolex-daytona-zenith-a-sothebys-guide Rolex Daytona Zenith: The Essential Guide] — Karyn Orrico, Sotheby's (2025)
* [https://mazzariolstefanoblog.com/en/stefano-mazzariol-blog-en/studio-sul-rolex-daytona-ref-116520-la-storia-i-mark-e-levoluzione-blog/ Study on the Rolex Daytona Ref. 116520: The History, the Marks and the Evolution] — Stefano Mazzariol
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-vintage-watch-nerds-critical-dissection-of-the-rolex-daytona-past-to-present-part-1-3 A Vintage Watch Nerd's Critical Dissection of the Rolex Daytona, Past to Present] — Paul Boutros, Hodinkee (2012–2013, three parts)
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-first-rolex-daytona-by-benjamin-clymer The Very First Rolex Daytona, Explained] — Benjamin Clymer, Hodinkee (2013)
* [https://www.phillips.com/article/127946519/rolex-daytona-aph-dial-116520-error Accidents Happen: How a Kerning Mistake Created a More Desirable Daytona] — Logan Baker, Phillips
* [https://perezcope.com/2022/12/31/rolex-daytona-6265-the-unicorn-frankenstein-plot/ Rolex Daytona 6265 — The "Unicorn" Frankenstein Plot] — Jose Pereztroika, Perezcope (2022)
* [https://perezcope.com/2022/11/03/rolex-daytona-6240-paul-newman-neanderthal-a-myth-goes-extinct/ Rolex Daytona 6240 Paul Newman "Neanderthal" — A Myth Goes Extinct] — Jose Pereztroika, Perezcope (2022)
* [https://perezcope.com/2025/12/03/not-quite-whiter-than-white-the-reality-of-the-rare-rolex-albino-daytona-ref-6263/ Not Quite Whiter Than White: The Reality of the Rare Rolex 'Albino' Daytona Ref. 6263] — Jose Pereztroika, Perezcope (2025)


[[Category:Daytona]]
[[Category:Daytona]]
[[Category:Glossary]]
[[Category:Glossary]]

Latest revision as of 21:10, 9 August 2026


Daytona -> Glossary

Daytona glossary

Terms that recur across the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona catalogue: dial variants, movement generations, bracelet and clasp references, case and bezel construction. Each entry links back to the reference where the term is documented in full.

Dial variants

Paul Newman and exotic dial family

Paul Newman dial. Singer-made Cosmograph dial with art-deco block markers, cross-hairs on the sub-dials, and 15/30/45 numerals on the 30-minute register. Fitted to six manual-wind references: 6239, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, and 6265. Full treatment on Paul Newman Daytona.

Mk1 through Mk4. Collector shorthand for the four main Paul Newman dial generations. Mk1 has no Daytona line, Mk2 adds it, Mk3 is the Big Eyes generation, and Mk4 is the late narrow-marker run. See the full progression table.

Big Eyes. The Mk3 sub-mark of the Paul Newman dial, named for the visually larger sub-dial outer rings. 1969–1972 production.

RCO (Rolex Cosmograph Oyster). Rare Paul Newman dial where the 12 o'clock text reads "ROLEX COSMOGRAPH OYSTER" with OYSTER printed below Cosmograph rather than above. Documented only on 6263 and 6265. Also called Oyster Sotto (Italian for "Oyster underneath"). The Oyster Sotto 6263 sold CHF 1,662,500 at Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018.

Oyster Sotto. Italian collector shorthand for the RCO dial layout. See RCO above.

JPS (John Player Special). Paul Newman dial on a yellow gold case with black ground and gold-toned sub-dial surrounds and hour markers, named for the John Player Special-sponsored Lotus F1 team livery of the 1970s. The 14k yellow gold 6241 is the most populous JPS host (fewer than 400 produced, North American market).

Lemon dial. Yellow lacquer full-dial finish fitted to rare gold-case 6263 and 6265 examples. Bob Ridley's 2017 bench examination of a gold 6241 for Revolution reports that gold-case Paul Newman Daytonas are always the Lemon variant, the rare RCO examples aside.

6263 / 6265 specialty dials

Big Red Daytona. Standard 6263 dial with "DAYTONA" printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced ~1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own 6263 — a Big Red — sold Phillips NY December 2020 for USD 5.48M. See 6263.

Floating Big Red. Transitional variant where the DAYTONA text sits visibly further from the sub-dial than on standard Big Red. Rare, and it carries a meaningful premium.

Small Red. Late-1980s variant where the red DAYTONA is rendered in a noticeably smaller font than the Big Red. See 6263 and 6265.

Sigma dial. Dial with σσ symbols flanking SWISS at the 6 o'clock chapter, denoting gold-applied hour markers. Swiss-industry convention for identifying precious-metal components. Appears ~1972–1978 across both 6263 and 6265.

Albino 6263. White-on-white monochromatic dial: silver sub-dials on a white base, bearing only "Rolex Oyster Cosmograph" without the standard "Daytona" wording. Three known examples. Authenticity is contested. Benjamin Clymer's 2013 Hodinkee piece treats it as a factory Rolex variant; Jose Pereztroika at Perezcope (2025) reads it as a 1990s Tom Bolt construction. See 6263.

Tropical. Production-period black dial that oxidised to brown under UV exposure or heat. These are aged production dials valued for their patina, not a factory variant in their own right. Distinct from Patrizzi, which affects only the sub-dial outer rings.

Double Swiss Underline. Earliest 6239 production with a line under "SWISS" at the dial base and a second "SWISS" printed just above, marking the transition out of radium.

6238 / 6240 specialty dials

Neanderthal 6240. Disputed dial configuration presented at Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 as the earliest Paul Newman prototype. Pereztroika's 2022 dossier reads the dial as a late-1990s construction off a 6238 donor, citing the April 1998 Orologi & Market. Both positions are on record. See 6240.

6265 specialty dials

Unicorn 6265. The only known white gold 6265 (case 2877587, manufactured 1970). Sold CHF 5,937,500 at Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018, second-highest Rolex auction result at the time. Pereztroika's 2022 Frankenstein analysis disputes authenticity from 2010 Instagram photographs and millerighe pusher detail. Both readings remain on record. See 6265.

Middle Eastern commissions

Sultan of Oman Khanjar. 6263 / 6265 examples carrying the Omani red Khanjar (curved dagger) emblem above the 6 o'clock sub-dial. Made in small numbers for Sultan Qaboos in the mid-1970s. Some examples carry Asprey signature. A Khanjar 6263 with Asprey signature sold USD 864,521 at Christie's Lesson One, Geneva, November 2013.

UAE Quraysh Hawk. 6263 example carrying the UAE military emblem (Hawk of Quraish with Arabic script reading "UAE armed forces") at 6 o'clock. Made for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during his UAE defence ministry tenure. Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 Lot 13, estimate CHF 200,000–400,000.

Arabian Knight 6263. Eastern Arabic numeral hour markers; white gold quarter-hour markers; Sigma logos at 6 referencing the white gold indices. Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 Lot 21, estimate CHF 1.5M–3.0M. Featured once in print before 2018; no comparable auction precedent.

Zenith era (cal 4030) dial progression

MK1 Floating Cosmograph Porcelain. First-year R-serial (1988) 16520-generation dial. Extra space between COSMOGRAPH and the next four lines; inverted 6 in the 9 o'clock hour totaliser; porcelain / glossy finish. The 16520 variant whose values have moved hardest since 2015.

MK2 Floating 4-Liner. L-serial (1989–1990) dial. OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED line missing — dial reads four lines of text instead of five. Photographed alongside the early 50–200 "UNITS PER HOUR" bezel in Luca Garbati's images of the Cattin Collection.

MK3 Inverted 6. E/N/X/C-serial (1990–1992). Inverted 6 in the 9 o'clock sub-dial; OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED restored.

MK4 Corrected 6. S/T-serial (1993–1996). Corrected 6 orientation; T SWISS T tritium markings; Patrizzi sub-dial varnish reaction eligibility window starts here.

MK5, MK6. Late-tritium T/U-serial (1996–1998). Stefano Mazzariol's original five-mark typology, relayed by Ross Povey in Revolution (2018), collapses MK5 and MK6 into one; the seven-mark expansion remains contested.

MK7. U/A/P-serial (1998–2000). Super-LumiNova replaces tritium; SWISS MADE replaces T SWISS T.

Patrizzi dial. Zenith-era dial where the varnish over the silver sub-dial rings turns brown. Named for Osvaldo Patrizzi. Window sits in the mid-1990s by most accounts. Genuine Patrizzi ageing usually runs uneven across the three sub-dials; a perfectly even effect should be treated with suspicion.

Darth Vader. 16520 variant where the silver sub-dial chapter rings have faded to a near-black tone, the inverse of the Patrizzi browning. Documented by Karyn Orrico in Sotheby's Zenith Daytona guide (2025).

Le Roi Soleil 16518. The only known Van Cleef & Arpels-signed 16518 — locally-printed VCA logo with paint-drip authentication detail, VCA letter-of-provenance with 1995 sale date. Phillips Daytona Ultimatum 2018 Lot 18, estimate CHF 50,000–100,000. See 16518.

Beach dial family. Pastel mother-of-pearl layouts on 16518 and 16519 — pink, salmon, pale blue MOP base with painted Roman or applied indices. Chrysoprase, lapis lazuli, sodalite stone variants sit in this family. Rolex did not issue them in a single canonical layout.

In-house cal 4130 era dials

APH error dial. 116520 variant with a visible kerning gap between "Cosmogr" and "aph" in the dial text, first seen on white dials in 2009 and black in 2010. Documented by Phillips's Logan Baker. Carries a small market premium despite being a misprint. See 116520.

2011 GT Champion 116523. Grey-rhodium soleil dial on a G-serial (circa 2010) 116523 presented to The Racer's Group for the #67 Porsche's GT-class win at the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Crown Royal Cask No. 16. Caseback engraved with the 2011 GT Champion mark. See 116523.

Mexican red dial. Late-production 116528 sub-branch — black lacquer dial with red DAYTONA script more prominent than the standard configuration. See 116528.

Stone and gem-set dial types

Sodalite. Deep-blue mineral dial with applied gold markers. Documented across gold-case references: 16518, 16519, 16528, 116520, 116523, 116528.

Lapis lazuli. Deeper blue-black flecked stone dial with applied markers. 16518 and 16528.

Mother-of-pearl (MOP). White or Tahitian (dark) MOP base with sub-dials cut from the same material on most examples. Appears across gold and in-house gen-1 references.

Diamond markers. Applied diamond hour markers in place of gold five-minute markers. Factory configurations documented by Sotheby's across the gold cal 4030 and cal 4130 generations.

Sapphire markers. Blue sapphire hour markers. Less common than diamond configurations.

Pavé. Factory-set diamond pavé across the dial surface, with or without coloured-stone accents (ruby, sapphire). Distinguishing factory from aftermarket pavé requires case-by-case authentication.

Movement

Valjoux 72. Manual-wind chronograph base movement used in the Daytona from 6238 in 1962 through the 6263 / 6265 in 1988. Rolex modifications produced calibers 722, 722-1, and 727 across the generation.

Cal 722. Early Rolex designation on the Valjoux 72 base, 18,000 vph. Used in the 6238 and early 6239 production.

Cal 722-1. Intermediate Valjoux 72 generation, late 1960s. Used in 6239, 6240, 6241.

Cal 727. Final manual-wind Daytona caliber. The 1969–1970 transition lifted the beat from 18,000 to 21,600 vph. Used in 6262, 6263, 6264, 6265 through 1988. See cal 727.

Cal 4030 (Zenith Daytona). Zenith El Primero base, heavily reworked by Rolex and used from 1988 to 2000. 28,800 vph, 31 jewels, no date, free-sprung balance, COSC. Published power reserve is usually given as 52 or 54 hours. See cal 4030.

Cal 4130 (in-house chronograph). Rolex's first wholly in-house chronograph movement. Vertical-clutch coupling, column-wheel switching, 72-hour power reserve, 44 jewels, 28,800 vph, COSC. Used 2000–2016 in the 116520 / 116523 / 116528 (and continues in post-2019 ceramic-bezel successors). See cal 4130.

Zenith El Primero base. The 1969 Zenith El Primero 400 was the base movement Rolex used for the cal 4030. Rolex slowed it from 36,000 to 28,800 vph, replaced the escapement with a free-sprung Breguet balance, removed the date, and stamped it cal 4030. The Zenith branding never appeared on a Rolex-signed dial.

Bracelet and clasp

Oyster bracelet. Three-link flat construction used across every Daytona generation in various references: 7205 / 7836 / 78350 (manual-wind era), 78360 / 78390 (Zenith era), 78490 (in-house gen 1). See Bracelets.

SEL (Solid End Link). Bracelet construction where the end-link is integral to the first link rather than a separate stamped piece. Introduced on the 16520 at the U-serial (1997–1998) transition and standard on every in-house-era Daytona thereafter.

78360. Heavy-link Oyster bracelet, 1976–1993. Used on the early Zenith 16520 (R-serial through early S-serial 1988–1993).

78390. Zenith-era Oyster successor to the 78360, 1993–2000. Used on the 16520 from S-serial 1993 through end of production.

78490. In-house era SEL Oyster bracelet. Used on the 116520 2000–2016. 78690 turns up in some listings, but that reference belongs to the Explorer 14270 bracelet; 78490 is the consensus identification for the 116520.

Oysterlock. Rolex's safety clasp with a folding cover over a folding clasp. Multiple generations across the Daytona run.

Easylink. 5mm comfort extension inside the Oysterlock clasp — a lever-and-keeper that gives a micro-adjustment without tools. Arrived on the 116520 around 2002–2003.

Glidelock. Micro-extension mechanism introduced on Submariner-line clasps in 2010. The Daytona never adopted it; Easylink is the only on-bracelet adjustment the 116520 generation offered.

Clasp date code. Single-letter code stamped inside the clasp blade. Runs A=1976 through CP=2011 with a 1995–98 overlap window (T/W/U/V/Z). Randomised from 2011 onward. S-prefix marks a service-replacement clasp, not a production year. See Bracelets for the full key.

Case, bezel, crystal, crown

Oyster case. Rolex's water-resistant case construction with screw-down caseback, screw-down crown, and screw-down pushers on chronograph variants. Introduced on the Daytona with the 6240 in 1965.

Triplock. Screw-down crown sealing on three rubber gaskets. Rated to 100m / 330ft on the 16520-generation and 116520-generation Daytona.

Twinlock. Earlier screw-down crown sealing on two rubber gaskets. Used on manual-wind Daytona (6239 onward) before the Triplock arrived with the Zenith generation.

Screw-down pushers. Chronograph pushers that lock to prevent accidental actuation underwater. Introduced on the 6240 in 1965, and the feature that defines the screw-pusher Oyster Daytona line: the 6240, 6263, 6265, and every subsequent Daytona reference.

Pump pushers. Non-screw-down chronograph pushers. Used on the earlier 6239, 6241, 6262, and 6264.

Engraved metal tachymetre bezel. Tachymetre scale engraved directly into the bezel metal (steel or precious metal). Defines the 6239, 6262, 6265, and the Zenith and in-house gen-1 steel references.

Acrylic bezel insert. Black acrylic insert carrying a printed tachymetric scale, fitted into the bezel. Defines the 6240, 6241, 6263, and 6264 — the 6264 is the acrylic-bezel sibling of the engraved-metal 6262.

Cerachrom. Rolex's ceramic bezel material. It reached the Cosmograph in 2011 on the Everose-gold 116515LN, then the platinum 116506 in 2013, and steel in 2016 with the 116500LN. The steel and Rolesor 116520-generation references kept an engraved metal tachymetre bezel throughout.

Acrylic crystal. Plexiglass crystal used on every manual-wind Daytona (6238 through 6265). Replaced by sapphire at the 16520 generation (1988).

Sapphire crystal. Flat sapphire crystal with no Cyclops. Used on every Zenith-era and in-house gen-1 Daytona from 1988 onward.

Serial systems

Numeric serials (pre-1987). Sequential numbers, about one million serials per decade. Used through the manual-wind era. See serial decoder.

Letter serials (1987–2010). One letter prefix per production year. Covers the Zenith-era Daytona (R 1988 through P 2000) and the early in-house 116520 generation through 2010. See serial decoder.

Random alphanumeric (2010+). Rolex randomised serials in 2010 to combat counterfeit decoding. Post-2010 116520 / 116523 / 116528 production carries random eight-character alphanumeric strings with no public year mapping.

Auction landmarks

Phillips Daytona Ultimatum, Geneva, 12 May 2018. 32-watch thematic sale curated by Pucci Papaleo with Aurel Bacs at the rostrum. Reset price ceilings across the manual-wind Daytona category. Highlights: the Unicorn 6265 (CHF 5,937,500), the Neanderthal 6240 (CHF 3,012,500), the Oyster Sotto 6263 (CHF 1,662,500).

Phillips Winning Icons, New York, 26 October 2017. Paul Newman's own 6239 MK1 sold for USD 17,752,500 — the highest price paid for any Rolex at public auction. See Paul Newman Daytona.

Phillips New York, 12 December 2020. Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263, its caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" by Joanne Woodward, who bought the watch for him in 1983. Newman gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund in 2008; the lot sold for USD 5,475,000. The engraving is the companion to the "DRIVE CAREFULLY ME" Woodward had put on his 6239 fifteen years earlier.

Christie's Lesson One, Geneva, 10 November 2013. The first Paul Newman to breach seven figures at auction — an Oyster Sotto 6263 hammered at about USD 1.089M.

Related references

Sources

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