NASA Engineer’s Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona Sells for $200,000 at Heritage Auctions
A Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona once owned by pioneering NASA engineer Oran W. Nicks sold for $200,000 at Heritage Auctions, leading a Watches & Fine Timepieces sale that totaled more than $3.68 million. The Rolex Ref. 6239 Cosmograph Daytona, dating to around 1969, came directly from Nicks’ family and was offered by his son. Heritage said the watch was fresh to the collector market and carried unusually strong provenance tying it to one of NASA’s early space-program leaders.
Nicks joined NASA in 1960 and later became Director of Lunar and Planetary Programs, overseeing early U.S. missions to the Moon, Mars and Venus. His work included the Ranger, Surveyor, Lunar Orbiter and Mariner programs. He later held senior positions at NASA’s Langley Research Center before moving to Texas A&M University, where he established major space research programs.
That history gave the Daytona a story that went well beyond the watch itself. The Ref. 6239 features a 37 mm stainless steel case, matte black dial and contrasting beige subsidiary dials for running seconds and the 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph registers. A red outer 1/5th-seconds scale surrounds the dial, while the watch is powered by Rolex’s caliber 722-1 manual-wind movement.
Heritage said the watch was accompanied by a 1995 Rolex service invoice and correspondence documenting a complete service and installation of a Rolex 78350 steel bracelet. Also included were a copy of the payment check, a Rolex model pamphlet and the original Styrofoam shipping box.
The Nicks Daytona was the clear standout of the September 16 auction, but several other important watches also reached strong prices. A circa-1984 Patek Philippe Ref. 3800/1 early gold Nautilus sold for $118,750, making it the second-highest result of the sale. The watch came from its original owner and retained its original mahogany presentation box, outer box and a 2018 Extract from the Archives.
The 37.5 mm Nautilus is housed in 18k yellow gold and features a ribbed gold dial with applied gold baton indexes. Heritage noted that its caliber 335 SC automatic movement is a first-series example, and the watch still carries its original 18k gold Patek Philippe bracelet with all factory links.
Another vintage Rolex Daytona also crossed the six-figure mark. A circa-1986 Rolex Ref. 6263 “Big Red” Cosmograph Daytona with its original box and papers sold for $100,000. The model is known for its screw-down chronograph pushers, Oyster designation and the red “DAYTONA” lettering above the six o’clock register. That example included its original inner and outer boxes, official chronometer pamphlet and punched guarantee paper documenting its June 15, 1987 sale by Mappin & Webb Ltd.
A rose-gold Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5167R-001 brought $84,375, while an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Perpetual Calendar, limited to just 35 pieces, sold for $68,750. Another Audemars Piguet, a Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Ref. 15202ST from around 2016, finished at $62,500. The 39 mm stainless steel model features a deep blue “Petite Tapisserie” dial and the ultra-thin caliber 2121 automatic movement visible through the case back.