Iconic Watches – The Paul Newman Daytona

Iconic Watches – The Paul Newman Daytona

The Paul Newman Daytona is one of the most iconic and sought-after watches in the world. Named after the famous actor and racing driver, the Paul Newman Daytona has a fascinating history and has become a symbol of vintage watch collecting. In this article, we will explore the origin of the watch, how it got its name, and the record auction sale of Paul Newman's own watch.


Origin of the Paul Newman Daytona


The Paul Newman Daytona was first introduced by Rolex in 1963 as a racing chronograph. The watch was designed specifically for professional racing drivers and featured a tachymeter scale on the bezel to measure average speed. The watch also had a distinctive dial with contrasting colors and an outer track with square markers instead of the standard round ones.

The watch was not an immediate success, and Rolex discontinued the model in the early 1970s. However, in the years that followed, the watch gained a cult following among collectors and enthusiasts, who appreciated its unique design and racing heritage.


How the watch got Its iconic name


The watch was named after Paul Newman, who was one of the most famous actors and racing drivers of the 1960s and 1970s. Newman was also a Rolex enthusiast and wore a Daytona watch during his racing career.

Newman's personal watch was a reference 6239 Daytona with an exotic dial that featured Art Deco-style fonts for the numerals and square markers on the outer track. This unique dial became known as the "Paul Newman" dial and is now one of the most recognizable and sought-after features of the watch.


Record auction sale of Paul Newman's own watch


In 2017, Paul Newman's own Rolex Daytona sold at auction for a record-breaking $17.8 million, making it the most expensive watch ever sold at auction at the time. The watch was sold by Phillips in New York and was purchased by an anonymous bidder after a 12-minute bidding war.

The watch, which Newman had worn for many years, had become a symbol of his passion for racing and his love of Rolex watches. The watch had been given to Newman by his wife, Joanne Woodward, in the early 1970s and had been engraved with the message "Drive Carefully Me." 

The sale of Newman's watch set a new record for vintage watch sales and cemented the Paul Newman Daytona as one of the most valuable and sought-after watches in the world.

In Conclusion the Paul Newman Daytona is a unique and iconic watch with a fascinating history. Named after one of the most famous actors and racing drivers of the 20th century, the watch has become a symbol of vintage watch collecting and a prized possession for collectors and enthusiasts around the world. The record-breaking sale of Paul Newman's own watch in 2017 only added to the mystique and value of this legendary timepiece.

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