A rare ‘Paul Newman’ Rolex Daytona is coming to auction soon – and here’s how you can own it.
The vintage chronograph is being auctioned by Fellows on February 26 and currently carries an estimate of $109,000 – $164,000.
Already being seen as one of the biggest highlights of the auction house’s sale, the watch, listed as Lot 50, can be traced back to the 1960s when Rolex first introduced the Cosmograph – which was then later named the Daytona after honouring Rolex’s links with the Daytona International Speedway and its links with motor racing.
While now seen as a legendary watch, at the time it was not an immediate commercial success until they introduced the ‘Exotic’ dial and various new dial variants.
Available in contrasting colour schemes (now known as ‘panda’ and ‘reverse panda’), the dials featured, as per Fellows, “a bold red outer minute track; Art-Deco style numerals within the sub-dials; square markers in the chronograph registers and striking high-contrast aesthetics.”
A statement from Follows said: “At the time, they were unconventional and somewhat divisive. Production numbers remained relatively low, as the market did not immediately embrace their avant-garde design. That rarity, of course, would later become central to their desirability.
“The dial’s transformation into a cultural icon is inseparable from Paul Newman — actor, racing driver and philanthropist.Gifted an Exotic dial Daytona by his wife, Joanne Woodward, Newman wore the watch consistently throughout the 1970s.
“Photographs of him at racetracks and public appearances cemented the visual association between man and model.”
The Rolex Daytona 6239 ‘Paul Newman, will appear at auction next week. Fellows say it “remains a benchmark vintage Rolex” and they describe it as “a watch that defines a collection rather than complements it.”
Fellows added of the model for auction: “The reference 6239 was the first Daytona produced by Rolex. Early examples were not included in the ‘Oyster’ line as Rolex could not guarantee water resistance due to the pushers. The Oyster moniker was only given to the Daytona after the introduction of screw-down chronograph pushers.
“This example features the desirable ‘Exotic’ three-colour dial, with short serifs, an asymmetrical 3, and ‘sing-a-song’ Swiss Made stamp. These watches have come to be associated with Paul Newman after he was pictured wearing one.”
Further details about the watch date it to 1969. It has a stainless steel case with tachymetre bezel and signed manual wind calibre 722-1. It has an off-white ‘Exotic’ dial with block hour markers, red on black outer minute track, subsidiary recorder dials to three, six and nine. It’s set on a signed stainless steel riveted Oyster bracelet.
You can see all details of the auction and find out how to bid here.
Back in 2017, Newman’s own Daytona earned a staggering $17.8 million at auction with all proceeds going to Newman’s own charitable foundation.
At last year’s Wonders and Watches, Rolex launched six new watches. Revisit these here.
