Originally Published on June 1, 2017
FASTEN YOUR SEAT-BELT!!!
THE
PAUL NEWMAN
DAYTONA
The Grail of Grails Finally Found
Newman's Own Daytona
Newman's Own Daytona
COMING TO AUCTION
In my 10 years of publishing Jake's Rolex World, this is probably the single most exciting moment!!! In an ironic coincidence, just yesterday I published a story about Paul Newman attending the 1977 Indianapolis 500 that featured him wearing this same trademark Rolex Daytona watch. I've got great news!!! The most iconic, mysterious and sought-after vintage Holy Grail Rolex watch has finally been found and is coming to auction!!! That's right, Paul Newman's Own Exotic White Dial Daytona will be coming to auction in October. The photo below of Paul Newman's Exotic White Dial Daytona appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal, and I have to admit, being able to finally examine it this close-up is otherworldly—to say the least...
If I seem star-struck—it's because I am :-0. Seeing this highly emblematic and eponymous Rolex Paul Newman Daytona this closely and intimately, would be like watching the most beautiful woman in the world, in movies and on TV, and in magazines, for years. Then all of a sudden, one day, she appears and is sitting in front of you, staring in your eyes—happily smiling at you. Seeing Paul Newman's actual Rolex Daytona in the flesh, this clearly & precisely, finally reveal all the details—unequivocally. All speculation and guessing games around the Paul Newman Daytona have finally come to an end...The vintage Rolex world now has achieved the truth with crystal-clarity around the previously enigmatic "Paul Newman Daytona." The facts have finally been separated from the fiction.
I have been researching Paul Newman's trademark Daytona for over a decade. As a matter of fact, last year I interviewed Paul Newman's daughter, Nell Newman about her father's highly iconic and prestigious Rolex Daytona. I will go into more details of my interview with Nell Newman later in this story. First, I must point out this is a very interesting Rolex, based upon the fact it seemed to be lost for 32 years, but was just found...sort of...The truth is, Paul Newman wore his now namesake Paul Newman Daytona all the time from 1972, until one fine summer day in 1985, when it seemed to mysteriously disappear from his wrist forever...never to be seen again...
Finding Paul Newman's Own Rolex Daytona really was a bit like finding the Titanic, in the sense everybody knew it existed, and wondered where it was? It took 73 years before the Titanic was found, and 32 years before Paul Newman's Daytona finally surfaced. Many Rolex collectors and enthusiasts, including myself, naturally wondered what happened to Paul Newman's Exotic Dial Daytona, and worried if it was lost, or even destroyed?...and today, seemingly, from out of the wild blue yonder, Paul Newman's Daytona magically reappeared to claim its title as the Grail of Grail watches...
As they say, "What a difference a day makes!" The obvious question is, what happened to Paul Newman's Daytona? What has Paul Newman's Trademark Daytona been doing for the past 32 years? Had it been lost in a river, or hiding in a drawer somewhere; or had Paul Newman lost it on a movie set or in a hotel? Had it been stolen, or given away to a mechanic of his? Or, was one of his daughters happily wearing it? Every Rolex Tells A Story, and this is certainly one fascinating Rolex Story!!!
Before I go into detail on Paul Newman's Daytona, let's first examine what makes this super-iconic Rolex watch really tick. In the past, I have written extensively about Paul Newman's Rolex collection. As a matter of fact, I would say my 8 Part series named: "The Complete History Of The Paul Newman Daytona" is THE DEFINATIVE STORY on Paul Newman's Daytona. My story offers a complete and comprehensive overview of Paul Newman's love of wearing Rolex watches. In my Paul Newman story, I chronicled Paul Newman wearing 6 different Rolex Daytona models, as well as a Platinum Rolex Day-Date, and a stainless steel Rolex Datejust.
I have been researching Paul Newman's trademark Daytona for over a decade. As a matter of fact, last year I interviewed Paul Newman's daughter, Nell Newman about her father's highly iconic and prestigious Rolex Daytona. I will go into more details of my interview with Nell Newman later in this story. First, I must point out this is a very interesting Rolex, based upon the fact it seemed to be lost for 32 years, but was just found...sort of...The truth is, Paul Newman wore his now namesake Paul Newman Daytona all the time from 1972, until one fine summer day in 1985, when it seemed to mysteriously disappear from his wrist forever...never to be seen again...
Elusive Icon Magically Appears
Finding Paul Newman's Own Rolex Daytona really was a bit like finding the Titanic, in the sense everybody knew it existed, and wondered where it was? It took 73 years before the Titanic was found, and 32 years before Paul Newman's Daytona finally surfaced. Many Rolex collectors and enthusiasts, including myself, naturally wondered what happened to Paul Newman's Exotic Dial Daytona, and worried if it was lost, or even destroyed?...and today, seemingly, from out of the wild blue yonder, Paul Newman's Daytona magically reappeared to claim its title as the Grail of Grail watches...
As they say, "What a difference a day makes!" The obvious question is, what happened to Paul Newman's Daytona? What has Paul Newman's Trademark Daytona been doing for the past 32 years? Had it been lost in a river, or hiding in a drawer somewhere; or had Paul Newman lost it on a movie set or in a hotel? Had it been stolen, or given away to a mechanic of his? Or, was one of his daughters happily wearing it? Every Rolex Tells A Story, and this is certainly one fascinating Rolex Story!!!
Before I go into detail on Paul Newman's Daytona, let's first examine what makes this super-iconic Rolex watch really tick. In the past, I have written extensively about Paul Newman's Rolex collection. As a matter of fact, I would say my 8 Part series named: "The Complete History Of The Paul Newman Daytona" is THE DEFINATIVE STORY on Paul Newman's Daytona. My story offers a complete and comprehensive overview of Paul Newman's love of wearing Rolex watches. In my Paul Newman story, I chronicled Paul Newman wearing 6 different Rolex Daytona models, as well as a Platinum Rolex Day-Date, and a stainless steel Rolex Datejust.
All that being said, there is one Rolex Daytona that stands out above the rest, and that is the one Paul Newman is wearing in the photo above, which is his highly emblematic and iconic "Exotic White Dial Daytona", which is a stainless steel Rolex Daytona Reference 6239. The photo of Paul Newman above shows the actual Rolex Daytona coming to auction. There is no other Rolex in existence I am aware of that is as valuable and prestigious as Paul Newman's Exotic Dial Daytona—not even close. In the photo below from the Wall Street Journal, we see the engraved caseback which features a message from Paul Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward that simply reads:
"DRIVE CAREFULLY—ME"
Joanne Woodward gave her husband Paul Newman this Rolex Daytona watch as a gift in 1972, when he began his professional racing career. At the time she paid around $300 for it.
The Hustler
In order to best understand the significance of Paul Newman's Daytona, we need to climb in The Rolex Time Machine and go back to 1961. In 1961, Paul Newman co-starred with Jackie Gleason in the cult-classic named The Hustler. At the time, Paul Newman was an up-and-coming super-star that was beginning to burn very brightly.
Jackie Gleason played Minnesota Fats in The Hustler, and Paul Newman played the role of Fast Eddie Felson. Piper Laurie played Sarah Packard, and George C. Scott played Bert Gordon.
The Hustler was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won the awards for Best Art-Set Decoration and Best Cinematography. Jackie Gleason and George C. Scott were both nominated for Best Actor In A Supporting Role. The Hustler was responsible for creating a resurgence of the popularity of pool in the U.S.
WINNING
1969 was a very good year for Paul Newman. He came out with two very successful movies that year. The first was a movie about a race car driver that was played by Paul Newman, and his wife Joanne Woodward costarred next to him. Paul Newman was so inspired by making the racing movie, "Winning" it lead him to become a professional race-car-driver in real life.
Paul Newman is pictured above and below in a publicity shots from the movie Winning.
Paul Newman is pictured below in a publicity photo from Winning, with a gorgeous female actress...
A Case of Mistaken Identity
A false myth has been circulating for many years now, that I busted a long time ago, and it said that Paul Newman wore a Rolex Daytona in the movie, Winning and that is where the name, "Paul Newman Daytona" came from. This is a clearly a case of mistake identity, (Pun Intended ;-). Although Paul Newman wore a stainless steel chronograph in that movie, it was NOT a Rolex. In the publicity shot below from Winning, we see Paul Newman wearing an unidentifiable Chronograph, and we see how it was possible for some people to confuse as being a Rolex Daytona, but the best evidence suggests otherwise.
This is a great photo of Paul Newman with Cary Grant and Joanne Woodward on the set of "Winning" in 1969. Cary Grant and Paul Newman are considered two of the most successful, best looking actors in history, and in the photo it is so cool to see them kicking it together enjoying a bottle of beer.
Paul Newman, Cary Grant & Joanne Woodward
On The Set of "Winning" 1969
You can watch 'Winning] on Youtube, but it is broken up into 6 parts. Here is part 1 if you want to get an idea of its vibe.
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Another seminal Paul Newman movie also debuted in 1969, named Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, which costarred Robert Redford.
Of course, Robert Redford famously wore his trademark Rolex Submariner which is pictured on his wrist in the photo below.
The Sting
Paul Newman and Robert Redford would successfully return to the silver screen in 1973 to co-star beside each other in blockbuster hit titled, The Sting.
The Towering Inferno
A short year later, in 1974, Paul Newman would costar with The King Of Cool, Steve McQueen in the movie titled, "The Towering Inferno." In the photo below we see Steve McQueen, Fay Dunaway, and Paul Newman sharing a good laugh on set during the filming of The Towering Inferno.
Steve McQueen, like Robert Redford, also wore a Rolex Submariner as seen on his right wrist in the photo above and below.
Steve McQueen was good friends with Paul Newman, and they shared a love of racing cars, and Rolex watches. In the photo below, taken in 1969, we see Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Barbra Streisand, and Sidney Poitier when they were announcing the formation of First Artists Production, which would be their own movie production company.
A question that comes up a lot, is, who was cooler: Paul Newman or Steve McQueen? This question inevitably ends up being a Coke v. Pepsi question, but it is worth noting Steve McQueen began his racing career, and was wearing his Rolex Submariner long before Paul Newman.
This fact is particularly interesting in the sense Steve McQueen and Paul Newman began their acting careers at the same time, as did James Dean. All three actors attended The Actors Studio in New York City, and Paul Newman went on to become the President of the organization. Steve McQueen and Paul Newman appear in the screen shot below from the movie, "Somebody Up There Likes Me." Paul Newman was five years older than Steve McQueen, and his career took off faster than Steve McQueen's, so it was thought that Steve McQueen looked-up to Paul Newman, but in some ways, it was clearly the other way around. Both Paul Newman and Steve McQueen had a very competitive relationship.
The Color Of Money
In 1986, Paul Newman would reprise his role as Fast Eddie Felson in the movie, The Color Of Money, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In the movie, The Color Of Money, Paul Newman's character, Fast Eddie Felson's character wears a stainless steel Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet, as seen in the photo above & below.
Back In Black
In the photo below with his co-star from The Color Of Money, Tom Cruise, again Paul Newman is wearing his Black Dial Daytona which has a reference number of 6263.
Again, in the next photo seen below we see Paul Newman wearing his black dial Daytona on a black crocodile FatStrap. According to Paul Newman's daughter, Nell Newman, who I interviewed last summer, this black dial Rolex Daytona was a gift from his wife Joanne Woodward, and on the back she had it engraved:
"DRIVE SLOWLY—JOANNE"
The stainless steel Rolex Daytona [Reference 6263] with the black dial and black bezel insert that Paul Newman is wearing in the photos above would look just like the one pictured below. Some of these models are referred to by collectors as "Big Red", since the Daytona has such a large 'Cherry Red' logo. You can learn much more about many of the different Rolex Daytona models by checking out my story named, "The Complete History Of The Rolex Daytona Cosmograph."
Notice this watch has screw-down protectors on the two chronometer buttons, unlike the 6239 with the white dial we already examined. For clarity sake, the photo above is NOT of Paul Newman's watch. I just want to give you a visual frame-of-reference for what it looks like close-up. Paul Newman wore his black dial Daytona literally until he passed away on September 26, 2008. In the photo below we see Paul Newman walking with his daughter Clea Newman in 1988, and Paul is wearing his black dial Daytona on an Oyster Bracelet.
If you look closely at every photo of Paul Newman wearing his black bezel/dial Daytona [Reference 6263] you will notice he ALWAYS wears it with the chronograph push protectors unscrewed. I believe this was he got so used to wearing his original exotic white dial Daytona, which lacked screw-down protectors, that he would simply leave them unscrewed. Just to be clear, the original Daytona watches had simple push buttons for the Chronograph function buttons. In later models, like the one seen below on Paul Newman's wrist, they added screw-down protectors to keep the push buttons more water-tight/ water-proof. Modern Rolex Daytona models still have this feature, which is a pain, as you have to unscrew the the protector, every time you want to use the Chronograph function, and when you are done using the Chronograph, you have to screw them back down.
Also, from all the photos it looked like Paul Newman typically did not screw down the Oyster winding crown either. This was due to the fact both his exotic white dial as well as his black dial Daytona models were manual wind watches, and Paul knew that there was a gasket in the watch winding crown that would protect it from water, and dust, sweat and dirt, even if the crown was not screwed down, so he simple left them unscrewed all the time to make they much easier to wind.
In the photo above and below, taken late in Paul Newman's life we see him wearing his black dial Daytona on a Rolex Jubilee bracelet. One thing is for certain, and that is the fact Paul Newman experimented like crazy with wearing different straps and bracelets on his Rolex Daytona watches.
If you look closely at every photo of Paul Newman wearing his black bezel/dial Daytona [Reference 6263] you will notice he ALWAYS wears it with the chronograph push protectors unscrewed. I believe this was he got so used to wearing his original exotic white dial Daytona, which lacked screw-down protectors, that he would simply leave them unscrewed. Just to be clear, the original Daytona watches had simple push buttons for the Chronograph function buttons. In later models, like the one seen below on Paul Newman's wrist, they added screw-down protectors to keep the push buttons more water-tight/ water-proof. Modern Rolex Daytona models still have this feature, which is a pain, as you have to unscrew the the protector, every time you want to use the Chronograph function, and when you are done using the Chronograph, you have to screw them back down.
Also, from all the photos it looked like Paul Newman typically did not screw down the Oyster winding crown either. This was due to the fact both his exotic white dial as well as his black dial Daytona models were manual wind watches, and Paul knew that there was a gasket in the watch winding crown that would protect it from water, and dust, sweat and dirt, even if the crown was not screwed down, so he simple left them unscrewed all the time to make they much easier to wind.
In the photo above and below, taken late in Paul Newman's life we see him wearing his black dial Daytona on a Rolex Jubilee bracelet. One thing is for certain, and that is the fact Paul Newman experimented like crazy with wearing different straps and bracelets on his Rolex Daytona watches.
THE PAUL NEWMAN DAYTONA STORY
Nell told me most of the proceeds would be going toward her Nell Newman Foundation. Nell Newman is pictured below in a photo from Vanity Fair that was taken by Annie Leibowitz.
Nell Neman shared the story with me, about how back in 1985, her boyfriend, James Cox spent the summer staying with the Newman family. James asked Paul Newman what time it was? Paul responded: "It's a hair past as freckle". Nell continued, "Then Pop (Paul Newman) asked James why he wasn't wearing a watch? James said he didn't own a watch, so Pop took off his exotic dial Rolex Daytona and handed it to James, and said: 'You should have a good watch, so you always know what time it is.'" I responded to Nell and said, "Wow!?!! That's crazy, your father just handed your boyfriend a watch that today is likely the most valuable watch on planet earth!!!!"
Nell responded: "That's the thing Jake; back then Rolex watches were not that big a deal. I mean, yeah, they were nice, but they were not considered to be anything like they are today." I was introduced to Nell Newman by Stan Barrett, who was Paul Newman's best friend and is pictured below with Paul in 1974. Notice Paul Newman is wearing his exotic dial Dayonta in the photo and Stan Barrett is wearing a Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master that Paul Newman gave Stan as a gift.
I originally wrote a detailed story about Stan Barrett, and we ended up becoming great friends. It's weird to think I have become really great friends with Paul Newman's best friend, but hey, I guess that is one of the great benefits of being the worlds leading Rolex historian ;-) Stan Barrett is pictured below with Paul Newman at a barbecue lunch, when Paul came to check out Stan's Budweiser Rocket car.
Just to be clear, the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman gave Stan Barrett is NOT the same Rolex Daytona that is coming to auction. The Rolex Daytona Paul Neman gave Stan Barrett as a good luck charm is a Rolex Reference 6262, which is pictured below in a photo that is being published in this story for the first time and is exclusive to Jake's Rolex World.
Stan Barrett is pictured below in a recent photo, and he really does look remarkably similar to Paul Newman. He is still wearing his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master Paul Newman gave him so many years ago.
I can't stop staring at how beautiful Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona is!!! If you look at it, it's as hypnotizing as Paul's crazy blue eyes. Everything I can see on this watch is original, and the magnificent patina is out of this world. It almost has a tropical dial patina look going on...
I have one more thing to say, and this is directed at the Rolex design team. Please, please, please, bring back this EXACT Rolex Daytona Cosmograph model design. Don't change a thing on the outside. Don't add the ROLEX, ROLEX, ROLEX, ROLEX, ROLEX engraving to the Rehaut. Don't put crown protectors on the case, don't put screw-down pushers on the choreograph buttons. Don't put the 4 line COSC goofiness on the dial. Don't reposition or resize the subdials. Don't change the typefaces. Don't change a damn thing!!! Don't change the color of your hair (/Billy Joel/ Don't Go Changing ;-)
Just give it a modern Rolex 3235 caliber movement, and make it in 43MM or 44MM, with a sturdy new Oyster Bracelet, and people will be madly in love with such a watch! This is what we all want!!! I have been saying it for a long time now, Rolex's future is hidden in plain sight in its past...
I originally wrote a detailed story about Stan Barrett, and we ended up becoming great friends. It's weird to think I have become really great friends with Paul Newman's best friend, but hey, I guess that is one of the great benefits of being the worlds leading Rolex historian ;-) Stan Barrett is pictured below with Paul Newman at a barbecue lunch, when Paul came to check out Stan's Budweiser Rocket car.
Paul Newman and Stan Barrett were BFF's up until Paul Passed away. People often mistook Stan Barrett for being Paul Newman's son, as the two look so similar. Paul used to kid Stan, and introduce him as his "illegitimate son." Later this year, I will be publishing a detailed video interview with Stan Barrett.
Stan Barrett was Paul Newman's stunt double in many, many movies and Stan Barrett was also a leading explorer in the art of motorsports, which lead him to shatter the world land speed record in 1979, when he drove into the history books as the first man to travel on land past the speed of sound.
In the photo above we see Stan Barrett preparing to set the all-time land speed record in 1979, and notice he is wearing two Rolex watches on his left wrist. For whatever it is worth, I perceive Stan Barrett to be the living personification and embodiment of Rolex. Stan is wearing his Pepsi Rolex GMT-Master Paul Newman gave him, and he is also wearing a special Rolex Daytona that Paul Newman gave him just before he drove his Budweiser Rocket Car past the speed of sound, which is pictured below. Paul Newman gave Stan Barrett this special Rolex Daytona as a good luck charm and said:
"Hey Kid, be sure to wear this Rolex Daytona, it will bring you good luck!"
Stan Barrett responded:
"I don't believe in luck!"
Paul Newman responded:
"Wear it anyway! I love you and I want to see you set this record, but if something goes wrong, I would be destroyed if I watch you die. So I am giving you this Rolex Daytona so a part of me will be with you, and I want you to know this is the first time I've prayed in 50 years!"
"Hey Kid, be sure to wear this Rolex Daytona, it will bring you good luck!"
Stan Barrett responded:
"I don't believe in luck!"
Paul Newman responded:
"Wear it anyway! I love you and I want to see you set this record, but if something goes wrong, I would be destroyed if I watch you die. So I am giving you this Rolex Daytona so a part of me will be with you, and I want you to know this is the first time I've prayed in 50 years!"
Just to be clear, the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman gave Stan Barrett is NOT the same Rolex Daytona that is coming to auction. The Rolex Daytona Paul Neman gave Stan Barrett as a good luck charm is a Rolex Reference 6262, which is pictured below in a photo that is being published in this story for the first time and is exclusive to Jake's Rolex World.
So let's get back to Paul Newman. On Paul Newman's birthday, back on January 26, 2013, I was the first person to accurately make a positive ID on the exact exotic dial Rolex Daytona model Paul Wore, and it was based upon exclusive images I published as seen below.
In 2013 I published the image above and below that showed Paul Newman's exotic dial watch, indeed was the version with the red micro-seconds dial track indices, along with the red DAYTONA dial designation, as seen below. This may not seem like a big deal today, but back then it was a major Rolex history revelation that had been disputed my many. If you look closely at the photo below, you can vaguely see the red DAYTONA designation running around the top of the bottom center sub-dial. Many people assumed since the red color on the dial was not visible in previously published images, that it lacked this detail. I just about fell out of my chair when I discovered this tell-tale characteristic image.
Just to be crystal-clear, and to offer an accurate frame of comparison, the watch pictured above in the 1970s is the same one pictured below in 2017.
As previously mentioned, Paul Newman gave his exotic white dial Rolex Daytona to his daughter Nell's boyfriend, whose name is James Cox. James has owned and worn it ever since it was given to him in the mid 1980s, and it will be up for auction with Phillips Auction House in New York in October.
The Wall Street Journal offered a really funny antidote about how James Cox came to discover the market value of the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman casually gave him:
Over the years, James wore the watch that Newman gave him nearly every day without a second thought—until he attended a trade show for TerraPax (James' Backpack company) in the mid-’90s. “A man who didn’t speak much English tapped me on the shoulder and said: ‘Paul Newman watch, Paul Newman watch.’ I thought, What the heck? How does this guy know I’ve got Paul Newman’s watch? He obviously was a watch enthusiast and saw that I had the Daytona model. That kind of clued me in, so I did a little research.”
James discovered that collectors, influenced by images of Newman wearing his watch, had renamed models with Exotic dials Paul Newman Daytonas. By the early ’90s, a 6239 Paul Newman Daytona garnered about $10,000 at auction. In May 2016, the auction price for a later reference hit $2 million.
Unaware of the new price peak but wanting to do something for the Nell Newman Foundation—the charitable organization that Nell started in 2010, two years after her father died of lung cancer at 83—James (the foundation’s treasurer) approached Jeff Walsworth, a lawyer based in Irvine, California, for advice about possibly selling the watch. Walsworth contacted Tom Peck, a well-known California watch collector, and six weeks later James met the man responsible for that record Daytona sale: Swiss auctioneer Aurel Bacs.
Bacs, a more than 30–year veteran of the vintage-watch world, runs the consulting firm Bacs & Russo with his wife, Livia, in Geneva, and works closely with the Phillips auction house. “The first question you ask when you get interested in vintage watches is, ‘Where is Paul Newman’s Paul Newman?’ ” Bacs says. “Everyone knows that by the mid-’80s Newman is no longer wearing it, and nobody knows where it is. There is hardly a dinner with collectors where the conversation does not turn to this watch. Where is it, and how much will it make if it ever comes to market? Has he lost it? Is it in a drawer in Connecticut at the house?” During a dinner with James, Walsworth and Peck at a private club in Irvine, California, in July 2016, Bacs finally held Newman’s original Daytona in his hands. “He was about as excited as a Swiss guy in a suit could get,” James says.
A few months later, James decided to sell the watch. “If Paul were alive, and I went to him and said, ‘Hey, you know that watch you gave me years ago? Turns out it’s super iconic and valuable,’ ” says James. “I think his response would be, ‘Well, what are you going to do with it, kid?’ ”
The question everybody is asking, is what is this special Rolex Daytona worth, or how much will it sell for at auction? In my personal opinion, Paul Newman's "Paul Newman Daytona" is the most valuable watch on earth. Notice I said, the most valuable watch on earth, not the most valuable Rolex. I think it will easily blow past $10 Million, and I could see it reaching upwards of $20 Million. The provenance behind this super-iconic, beautiful watch is beyond remarkable. Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona is the ultimate vintage Rolex, and a significant portion of the auction proceeds will be donated to the Nell Newman Foundation, which is a non-profit organization Nell founded in 2010.
The Wall Street Journal offered a really funny antidote about how James Cox came to discover the market value of the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman casually gave him:
Over the years, James wore the watch that Newman gave him nearly every day without a second thought—until he attended a trade show for TerraPax (James' Backpack company) in the mid-’90s. “A man who didn’t speak much English tapped me on the shoulder and said: ‘Paul Newman watch, Paul Newman watch.’ I thought, What the heck? How does this guy know I’ve got Paul Newman’s watch? He obviously was a watch enthusiast and saw that I had the Daytona model. That kind of clued me in, so I did a little research.”
James discovered that collectors, influenced by images of Newman wearing his watch, had renamed models with Exotic dials Paul Newman Daytonas. By the early ’90s, a 6239 Paul Newman Daytona garnered about $10,000 at auction. In May 2016, the auction price for a later reference hit $2 million.
Unaware of the new price peak but wanting to do something for the Nell Newman Foundation—the charitable organization that Nell started in 2010, two years after her father died of lung cancer at 83—James (the foundation’s treasurer) approached Jeff Walsworth, a lawyer based in Irvine, California, for advice about possibly selling the watch. Walsworth contacted Tom Peck, a well-known California watch collector, and six weeks later James met the man responsible for that record Daytona sale: Swiss auctioneer Aurel Bacs.
Bacs, a more than 30–year veteran of the vintage-watch world, runs the consulting firm Bacs & Russo with his wife, Livia, in Geneva, and works closely with the Phillips auction house. “The first question you ask when you get interested in vintage watches is, ‘Where is Paul Newman’s Paul Newman?’ ” Bacs says. “Everyone knows that by the mid-’80s Newman is no longer wearing it, and nobody knows where it is. There is hardly a dinner with collectors where the conversation does not turn to this watch. Where is it, and how much will it make if it ever comes to market? Has he lost it? Is it in a drawer in Connecticut at the house?” During a dinner with James, Walsworth and Peck at a private club in Irvine, California, in July 2016, Bacs finally held Newman’s original Daytona in his hands. “He was about as excited as a Swiss guy in a suit could get,” James says.
A few months later, James decided to sell the watch. “If Paul were alive, and I went to him and said, ‘Hey, you know that watch you gave me years ago? Turns out it’s super iconic and valuable,’ ” says James. “I think his response would be, ‘Well, what are you going to do with it, kid?’ ”
The question everybody is asking, is what is this special Rolex Daytona worth, or how much will it sell for at auction? In my personal opinion, Paul Newman's "Paul Newman Daytona" is the most valuable watch on earth. Notice I said, the most valuable watch on earth, not the most valuable Rolex. I think it will easily blow past $10 Million, and I could see it reaching upwards of $20 Million. The provenance behind this super-iconic, beautiful watch is beyond remarkable. Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona is the ultimate vintage Rolex, and a significant portion of the auction proceeds will be donated to the Nell Newman Foundation, which is a non-profit organization Nell founded in 2010.
"I would like it if people would think that beyond Newman, there`s a spirit that takes action, a heart, and a talent that doesn't come from my blue eyes." –Paul Newman
I would like to thank The Wall Street Journal for providing the superb images of Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona watch with the Exotic White Dial. The Wall Street Journal published a great story on the history of this amazing Paul Newman Daytona, titled, "How Paul Newman's Legendary Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Was Found—and Where It's Going Now." Below is a photograph of Michael Clerizo from the Wall Street Journal wearing Paul Newman's Own legendary Paul Newman Daytona. This exclusive photo of Paul Newman's Daytona in the wild appears courtesy of Revolution.Watch Instagram Page.
I would also like to thank Stan Barrett for all of his valuable insight and contributions to this story, as well as Nell Newman for sharing her insight into her father's brilliant Rolex History. I would also like to congratulate Aurel Bacs of the Swiss Auction House, Philipps for successfully landing Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona to auction. Paul's watch could not be in better hands.
Paul Newman pictured above wearing his Rolex Daytona on a crocodile FatSrap, while wearing a denim shirt that was a gift from Stan Barrett.
Even though he is no longer with us, I would like to thank Paul Newman for being Paul Newman. Paul Newman was the living embodiment of the Rolex Daytona watch. He was extremely good-looking, sporty, clean-cut, stylish, and most importantly, timeless. Paul's legacy has touched so many people in so many positive ways and inspired vintage Rolex collectors in a way nobody else could have. Paul Newman's generosity should also be a great source of inspiration for everybody. Obviously, he loved giving people who were close to him Rolex watches, but through Newman's Own, he really showed the world what generosity and philanthropy is about...
One More Thing
I have one more thing to say, and this is directed at the Rolex design team. Please, please, please, bring back this EXACT Rolex Daytona Cosmograph model design. Don't change a thing on the outside. Don't add the ROLEX, ROLEX, ROLEX, ROLEX, ROLEX engraving to the Rehaut. Don't put crown protectors on the case, don't put screw-down pushers on the choreograph buttons. Don't put the 4 line COSC goofiness on the dial. Don't reposition or resize the subdials. Don't change the typefaces. Don't change a damn thing!!! Don't change the color of your hair (/Billy Joel/ Don't Go Changing ;-)
Just give it a modern Rolex 3235 caliber movement, and make it in 43MM or 44MM, with a sturdy new Oyster Bracelet, and people will be madly in love with such a watch! This is what we all want!!! I have been saying it for a long time now, Rolex's future is hidden in plain sight in its past...
Three words: "Paul Neman Daytona", will forever be memorialized in this amazing watch and man. No matter how emblematic and symbolic they both are, we end up with a crystal-clear case of substance over symbolism. (Pun Intended ;-)
