When in 1969 Joanne Woodward gifted his husband Paul Newman a Rolex Daytona bought from a jewelry store in NY, she definitely wasn’t expecting that, 40 years later, that same watch would become the most expensive Daytona in history.
Sold by Philips at an auction for 17.8 million dollars, this surely is the most iconic and desired watch by worldwide collectors.
Technically speaking, the reference of this watch is 6239.
It was produced by Rolex in the 60s as a car race chronograph. The 6239 was equipped with a robust and reliable caliber: the Valjoux 72.
The dial was referred as “exotic” in the 80s. Later, thanks to American and Italian collectors, this kind of dial was renamed “Paul Newman”, due to the discovery of the ownership by the famous actor.
The watch was used by the actor for years and years in different environments, as shown in pictures. As well as on movie sets, Paul Newman wore his 6239 when swimming, but more important, to time car races like the Le Mans 24 hours. We can’t forget he also was a great pilot!
In the 90s, Paul Newman gifted James Cox, his daughter’s fiancée, the watch. He wore it as a reminder of their friendship for almost two decades, until last year, when he decided to separate from it.
The current owner is unknown, but the watch will always carry an indelible aura of memories that marked the life of a great actor, pilot and philanthropist of the XX century.
Translated by Lorenzo Spolaor (@itsdoc_oclock)
