Rare Rolex sat in family drawer for 45 years, then sold for CHF 1.143 million

A rare Rolex Daytona made in 1967 and kept in a family drawer for more than 45 years sold for CHF 1.143 million at auction in Geneva. The 18k yellow-gold watch, a Reference 6239 with a black and champagne “Paul Newman” dial, belonged to the family of its original owner. It was later inherited by two sisters before being offered at auction.According to Phillips Auction, the watch was listed by Sotheby’s with an estimate of CHF 300,000 to CHF 600,000. Its final price was much higher than the auction house’s estimate. The sale drew attention to the rarity of yellow-gold versions of the early Rolex Daytona, particularly those fitted with the Paul Newman-style dial.The Reference 6239 has an important place in the history of the Daytona. Rolex launched the model in 1963, and it was discontinued only a few years later.