Two Rolex Daytona's belonging to legendary Hollywood actor Paul Newman sold for around $1.1 million each. The auction took place on Friday, June 9 at Sotheby's in New York.
It is a Rolex «Zenith» Daytona and a white gold Daytona. Both were more closely associated with his passion for motor racing than few other items. The Rolex Zenith Daytona had special significance to Newman, as it was intertwined with his racing career. He acquired it after winning the GTS-1 class in the 1995 Daytona 24 Hours.
The remarkable achievement made Newman, at 70, the oldest driver to win the race. A record that remains in the Guinness World Records to this day.
In 1999, Newman, famous for his charity work, decided to auction the watch during Antiquorum's «Famous Faces» sale. The watch was inscribed «Rolex at Daytona 24 Paul Newman Rolex Motorsports Man of the Year 1995». At the time, it closed a record $39,000 sale to benefit Newman's charity.
Newman, however, was seen wearing it again in later years. This sparked speculation that a close family member or friend had bought it again. But it was attractive to car enthusiasts.
Spousal gift
His white gold Daytona was a gift from his wife Joanne in 2006. It was the last one the actor owned before he died two years later. It consistently accompanied him during those years: he wore it when Barbara Walters interviewed him in 2007, and again while riding his famous final laps at Lime Rock Park the following year.
Sotheby's head of fine watches, Leigh Safar, speaking to GQ, says Newman «changed the way we look at watches and changed the conversation around watch collecting». Newman, she notes, was an influencer for his time. Since many young people of the time watched his films, and bought the products he advertised. While several collectors had long been hunting for the pieces he favored.
Source: ot.gr
