Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Drake spotted wearing Rolex

Drake was spotted courtside at a Toronto Raptors game wearing what appears to be a vintage Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 6239 in stainless steel, featuring the highly coveted 'Paul Newman' exotic dial in white. For a man who owns one of hip-hop's most documented watch collections, this particular choice signals genuine horological seriousness rather than pure status signaling.

The Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 represents the genesis of the Daytona lineage. Introduced in 1963, it was the first model to bear the Cosmograph designation and was designed explicitly for motorsport timing. It runs on the manually-wound Valjoux 72 caliber — a Swiss ébauche movement featuring a column wheel chronograph mechanism, 17 jewels, and a 40-hour power reserve. The case measures 37mm in stainless steel, fitted with a screw-down pushers arrangement and a tachymeter-engraved bezel. Production continued until approximately 1969, making surviving examples well over five decades old.

The 'Paul Newman' designation refers to a specific exotic dial variant distinguished by its Art Deco-style sub-register printing, squared-off Arabic numerals, and contrasting track detail around the chronograph counters. On this white-dial example, the effect is particularly striking — a clean, high-contrast aesthetic that photographers and collectors alike find irresistible. The nickname itself derives from the actor Paul Newman, who famously wore his own ref. 6239, gifted to him by Joanne Woodward. That specific watch sold at Phillips Geneva in October 2017 for $17,752,500, establishing an absolute auction record for any wristwatch.

Drake's relationship with Toronto makes the Raptors courtside setting entirely appropriate — he has served as the franchise's global ambassador since 2013. His watch collection is well-documented and spans Patek Philippe complications, AP Royal Oaks, and custom Rolexes. Adding a genuine Paul Newman Daytona ref. 6239 to that roster demonstrates a collector's instinct beyond mere name recognition.

On the current grey market, honest examples of the Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 with a Paul Newman white dial command approximately $200,000 USD, with premium provenance or exceptional condition pushing prices considerably higher. Rolex never officially retailed this reference in the modern era — there is no current list price. Demand consistently outstrips supply, and values have appreciated sharply over the past decade with no meaningful reversal in sight.