Rolex Daytona 6241: Short Answer
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6241 is a hand-wound chronograph that Rolex built from about 1966 to 1969. The case measures 37 mm. It has pump pushers, no crown guards, and a black bezel insert with a printed tachymeter scale. The movement is the Valjoux 722, a column-wheel chronograph with 17 jewels and a beat rate of 18,000 vibrations per hour. Replica 6241s exist. They are unlicensed copies of a trademarked design, and selling them is illegal in the United States.
Specifications
- Reference: 6241
- Production: about 1966 to 1969
- Case: 37 mm, stainless steel, 14k or 18k yellow gold
- Pushers: pump style, no screw threads
- Bezel: black insert with a printed tachymeter scale
- Movement: Valjoux 722, hand-wound, column wheel, 17 jewels, 18,000 vph
- Crystal: acrylic
- Dial text: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona above the subdials
How the 6241 Differs From the 6239 and 6263
The 6239 arrived in 1963 with a steel bezel and an engraved tachymeter scale. The 6241 swapped that bezel for a black insert. Both references share a case, pump pushers, and the Valjoux 722. The 6263 and 6265 came in 1970 with screw-down pushers and a water-resistant Oyster case. Collectors group the 6239, 6241, 6262, and 6264 as the non-Oyster Daytonas.
Exotic Dials
Rolex offered an exotic dial option at no extra charge. Collectors call these Paul Newman dials. They use a contrasting color inside the subdials, block numerals in the subdial scales, and a rail track with square ends. The dials sold in small numbers at the time. A 6241 with an exotic dial sells for several times the price of one with a standard dial.
John Player Special
The John Player Special is a yellow gold 6241 with a black exotic dial. The nickname refers to the black and gold livery of the Lotus Formula One cars run by John Player and Sons. The dial pairs a black base with gold subdials and gold printing. Rolex did not publish production counts for the variant.
Replica Builds
Replica 6241s come from several unlicensed workshops. A common build uses a 37 mm steel case, an acrylic crystal, a printed bezel insert, and a Seagull ST19 hand-wound chronograph. Some sellers use an Asian 7750, an automatic movement. That choice is wrong for the reference because the original is hand-wound and the pusher feel differs. Points that vary between replicas:
- Pusher shape and length
- Subdial spacing relative to the center hand
- Bezel insert font weight and scale spacing
- Case thickness and lug profile
- Dial printing size and the height of the text block
No replica uses a Valjoux 722. Production of that movement ended decades ago, and the remaining supply goes into genuine watches and service work.
Prices
Genuine 6241s sell for six figures at auction. Exotic dial examples sell above that. In October 2017, Phillips sold Paul Newman's own Daytona, a ref. 6239 with an exotic dial, for $17.75 million. Replica copies sell from about $200 to $600. The price gap comes from the movement, the case materials, and the Rolex trademark.
Legal Status in the US
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import and sell in the United States. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments that carry a counterfeit mark, and the Trademark Counterfeiting Act sets criminal penalties for trafficking. Personal possession carries less exposure than resale, but the watch remains an infringing copy.
Authentication Points on a Genuine 6241
- Reference number 6241 stamped between the lugs at 12 o'clock, serial at 6 o'clock
- Movement signed Rolex and based on the Valjoux 722
- Bezel insert with an even scale and correct font weight
- Subdial spacing that matches the Valjoux 722 layout
- Case back with the correct reference stamp and no polish loss