NASA Engineer's Rolex 'Paul Newman' Daytona Heads to Heritage Auction

A rare Rolex 'Paul Newman' Cosmograph Daytona, once owned by NASA engineer Oran W. Nicks, will be offered at Heritage Auctions' Watches & Fine Timepieces Signature Auction on September 16. The watch, a Ref. 6239 circa 1969, is one of 55 lots in the sale and comes directly from the family of the original owner. Nicks was a pioneering aeronautical engineer and NASA leader who directed lunar and planetary programs and later led Texas A&M University's Low-Speed Wind Tunnel, which now bears his name. Heritage's Jim Wolf highlighted the watch's exceptional provenance. The auction presents a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire a timepiece with significant historical and personal value.