Answer first: a fake Rolex 6239 Paul Newman is a copy of the Cosmograph Daytona that Rolex built from 1963 to about 1969. The genuine watch has a 37mm steel case, pump pushers, a Valjoux 72 based movement, and the exotic "Paul Newman" dial. Replica versions sell for $100 to $800. Genuine 6239 Paul Newman watches sell at auction for six and seven figures. A low price is the first sign of a copy.
What the Reference 6239 Is
Rolex launched the Cosmograph ref. 6239 in 1963. It was the first Daytona with the tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel instead of printed on the dial. The case measures 37mm across. Pushers are the pump type, not screw-down. Crown guards are absent. Inside sits a movement based on the Valjoux 72, sold by Rolex as cal. 722, with 17 jewels and a rate of 18,000 vibrations per hour.
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The Paul Newman Dial
Collectors gave the name "Paul Newman" to the exotic dial in the 1980s. The actor wore a ref. 6239 given to him by his wife, Joanne Woodward, with an engraved caseback. The dial has subdials and an outer track in a contrasting color, printed box scales inside the subdials, square-tip markers, and lume plots at the hour positions. Three-color layouts mix black, white, and red. Genuine exotic dials are rare. Rough estimates put the share of 6239 production with this dial in the low single digits.
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How Replica 6239 Watches Are Built
Most copies use a Seagull ST19 hand-wound chronograph, a Chinese version of the Venus 175. It runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour and holds about 40 hours of power reserve. Some builds use a Landeron or a Valjoux 72 clone. Case sizes run from 38mm to 40mm, wider than the original. Many copies use sapphire crystal in place of acrylic. Prices start near $100 and top out near $800.
Checks That Separate a Copy From a Genuine Watch
- Case width: 37mm on the genuine 6239. Most copies measure 38mm or more.
- Beat rate: 18,000 vph on a Valjoux 72. The ST19 runs at 21,600 vph.
- Bezel: steel with an engraved scale on the 6239. Black acrylic inserts belong to later references such as the 6263.
- Crystal: acrylic on originals. Sapphire points to a modern build.
- Dial print: box scales and subdial text are hard to copy. Check the spacing and the weight of the print.
- Caseback: genuine watches carry stamped reference numbers between the lugs.
Prices and Auction Records
Paul Newman's own ref. 6239 sold at Phillips in New York on 26 October 2017 for $17,752,500. That set a record for a wristwatch at auction. Standard 6239 Paul Newman examples trade around $100,000 to $500,000, based on dial type, condition, and paperwork. A replica at $200 carries no resale value.
Legal Status in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to sell in the US. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 covers trafficking in counterfeit goods and carries prison terms and fines. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit shipments, and Rolex holds the trademark on the name and the crown logo. Importing a copy into the US is prohibited.