Watch Paparazzi

Actor Sylvester Stallone spotted wearing Rolex

At the launch event for Paramount+, Sylvester Stallone arrived wearing what any seasoned collector would immediately clock as one of the most nuanced variants in the Paul Newman Daytona family: a stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 6241. On a wrist that has sported some serious horological hardware over the years, this particular choice speaks to genuine knowledge rather than mere brand recognition.

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 sits in a precise and brief moment in the model's evolution. Introduced around 1966-67, it carries over virtually every characteristic of the earlier Ref. 6239 — the manual-winding Valjoux 72 movement, the exotic 'Paul Newman' exotic dial with its art-deco sub-register typography and contrasting chapter rings — but departs on one specific point: the bezel construction. Where the 6239 featured a fully engraved stainless steel bezel, the 6241 introduced a two-component bezel comprising a metal outer ring housing an acrylic insert with tachymeter markings. It was a short-lived design choice, abandoned with subsequent references, which is precisely what makes it so interesting.

For collectors, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6241 occupies a strange and compelling middle ground. It lacks the name recognition of the 6239 — widely considered the archetypal Paul Newman Daytona — yet its lower production numbers and the singular bezel configuration make it arguably rarer in the wild. The acrylic insert is prone to cracking and shrinkage over decades, meaning intact examples command serious attention at auction. Christie's, Phillips, and Sotheby's have all seen strong results for honest Ref. 6241 examples with matching dials.

Stallone's connection to vintage Rolex runs deep. He has publicly discussed his collecting habits and has been photographed with significant references on multiple occasions. Choosing a Ref. 6241 Paul Newman for a high-visibility media event rather than something more immediately legible to a general audience suggests the watch was worn for personal meaning, not optics.

On the current market, stainless steel Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 examples with original Paul Newman dials in strong condition routinely achieve figures well into six figures at major auction houses, with exceptional examples — correct gilt dials, matching cases, original bracelets — pushing considerably higher. Retail pricing is not applicable for a vintage reference of this era.