Sotheby’s says the black-on-black Daytona “Paul Newman” reference 6241 it is selling in Paris was “recently discovered in a private European collection,” where it sat untouched for decades. As of October 5, 2026, bidding on the steel chronograph stands at EUR 200,000, roughly $225,000 USD at current exchange rates, across eight bids, and the house marks the reserve as met.
The estimate is EUR 120,000 to 260,000, which works out to roughly $135,000 to $292,500 USD. The watch is lot 368 in Fine Watches, sale PF2660, a timed online auction of 109 lots that opened September 23 and begins closing October 7, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET. Lot 368 closes at 8:18 AM ET.
Sotheby’s dates the case to around 1968 and lists case number 1’766’002, a 36mm steel case with a screw-down back, the manual-winding calibre 722-1 with 17 jewels, and a steel Oyster bracelet with folding clasp. Box, papers, the Rolex guarantee card and the presentation case all come with it. The catalogue note puts production of the 6241 between 1965 and 1969 and credits its black acrylic bezel as the break from the steel-bezel 6239 that preceded it.
The Daytona is not the sale’s top bid. Lot 367, a platinum F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain from 2014 estimated at EUR 150,000 to 300,000, roughly $168,750 to $337,500 USD, sits at EUR 220,000, roughly $247,500 USD. Bidding on both runs through Sotheby’s own online catalogue, open to registered bidders.