NASA Engineer's Rolex 'Paul Newman' Daytona Brings $200,000 to Lead Heritage's $3.68 Million Watches & Fine Timepieces Auction

Patek Philippe Gold Nautilus and Rolex ‘Big Red’ Cosmograph Daytona also reach six figures DOWNLOAD DIGITAL PRESS KIT DALLAS, Texas (Sept. 17, 2026) — A magnificent Rolex “Paul Newman” Cosmograph Daytona that belonged to pioneering NASA engineer Oran W. Nicks sold for $200,000 Sept. 16 to lead Heritage’s Watches & Fine Timepieces Signature® Auction to $3,683,964. Fresh to the collector market and offered by Nicks’ son, the Rolex Important & Rare Ref. 6239 “Paul Newman” Cosmograph Daytona, Circa 1969 was the top result in an auction filled with rare luxury watches and collectible timepieces from many of the world’s most celebrated manufacturers. The $200,000 Rolex Ref. 6239 carried impeccable provenance. Nicks (1925-98) was a distinguished aerospace engineer who joined NASA in 1960 and became Director of Lunar and Planetary Programs, overseeing early American missions to the Moon, Mars and Venus, including Ranger, Surveyor, Lunar Orbiter and Mariner. He later held senior leadership positions at NASA’s Langley Research Center before joining Texas A&M University, where he founded and directed major space research initiatives and led development of the Low Speed Wind Tunnel that now bears his name. His personal Rolex features a 37 mm stainless steel case, matte black dial and contrasting beige subsidiary dials for seconds and the 30-minute and 12-hour registers, along with an outer red 1/5th-seconds scale. Inside is Rolex’s caliber 722-1 manual-wind movement. The watch was accompanied by a 1995 Rolex service invoice and correspondence documenting a complete service and installation of a new Rolex 78350 steel bracelet, along with a copy of the payment check, Rolex model pamphlet and original Styrofoam shipping box. The auction’s second-highest result came from another cornerstone of watch collecting: a Patek Philippe Rare Ref. 3800/1 Early Gold Nautilus Automatic Wristwatch, circa 1984, which realized $118,750. Presented by its original owner, the early gold Nautilus was accompanied by its original mahogany presentation box, outer box and a 2018 Extract from the Archives. “This auction brought together exceptional watches that appeal to collectors for very different reasons, from the extraordinary history behind the Oran Nicks ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona to an early gold Patek Philippe Nautilus and some outstanding examples from Audemars Piguet,” says Jim Wolf, Heritage’s Director of Watches & Fine Timepieces. “The results demonstrate the enthusiasm collectors continue to have for great watches with compelling provenance, distinctive design and exceptional craftsmanship.” The Rolex Ref. 6239 “Paul Newman” was one of two vintage Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas to reach six figures. A Rolex Ref. 6263 “Big Red” Cosmograph Daytona, circa 1986, with its original box and papers, closed at $100,000. The Ref. 6263 is one of the defining vintage Daytona models, distinguished by its screw-down chronograph pushers and “Oyster” designation. This example features a matte black dial with silver subdials and the model’s unmistakable red “DAYTONA” signature above the six o’clock register. Powered by the Rolex-signed Valjoux caliber 727 manual-wind chronograph movement, it was offered with its original inner and outer boxes, official chronometer pamphlet and punched guarantee paper recording its June 15, 1987 sale by Mappin & Webb Ltd. Patek Philippe also produced two of the auction’s four highest results. The $118,750 Ref. 3800/1 Early Gold Nautilus, circa 1984, features a 37.5 mm 18k yellow gold case and an elegant ribbed gold dial with applied gold baton indexes. Its automatic caliber 335 SC movement is a first-series example operating at 28,800 oscillations per minute. The watch retains its original 18k gold Patek Philippe bracelet with all factory links. Another Patek Philippe, a Very Fine Aquanaut Rose Gold Ref. 5167R-001, reached $84,375. From the collection of Mr. Russell Cleveland, the watch pairs a 40 mm 18k rose gold case and rounded octagonal bezel with an embossed dark brown dial, rose gold and white Arabic numerals and luminous rose gold baton hands. Its automatic movement is visible through the exhibition case back. Collectors also responded strongly to Audemars Piguet, including an elaborate Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Perpetual Calendar, Limited Edition 05/35, Ref. 26209TI that sold for $68,750. Its 42 mm titanium case houses a black square-patterned dial that incorporates the moonphase calendar, weekday, month and date indications alongside chronograph registers and small seconds. The watch was presented with its box, guarantee booklet, service records and setting instructions. Another Royal Oak followed closely behind when an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Ref. 15202ST, circa 2016, realized $62,500. Its 39 mm stainless steel case frames the model’s “Petite Tapisserie” deep blue dial, with luminous steel baton indexes and hands. The transparent case back reveals Audemars Piguet’s ultra-thin automatic caliber 2121 with a gold rotor. The watch was offered with boxes, booklets, hang tag, certificate and warranty dated Feb. 15, 2016. Rolex remained a significant presence among the auction’s other top watch auction results. A Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116508 with the celebrated green “John Mayer” dial sold for $60,000. The watch combines a 40 mm 18k yellow gold case and Oyster bracelet with its distinctive green dial, gold luminous hour indexes and three chronograph registers. Its automatic caliber 4130 movement offers approximately 72 hours of power reserve. Also finishing at $60,000 was a vintage Rolex Ref. 6240/6239 Rare Oyster Cosmograph with Sigma Dial, Box & Papers, circa 1960s. The 37 mm stainless steel chronograph features screw-down crown and pushers, a black MK1 bezel and a black dial with contrasting silver subdials and applied white gold indexes. Its manual-wind Valjoux 72 B movement is a 17-jewel column-wheel chronograph adjusted to three positions. Complete results can be found at HA.com/5583. Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich, Geneva, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 2,000,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of more than 7,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit. For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter. Link to this release or view prior press releases . Hi-Res images available: Steve Lansdale, Senior Public Relations Specialist 214-409-1699; SteveL@HA.com