Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were Hollywood’s golden couple in the 1950s and ’60s, and Newman’s watches, particularly his Rolex Daytonas, have since become equally golden. One of the actor’s watches, the so-called “Paul Newman” Paul Newman Daytona – with a distinctive dial design named for his preference – famously sold in 2017 for $17.7-million. Now, his widow and family are selling a pair of Rolex Daytona watches owned by the late actor in the Sotheby’s New York auction of Important Watches on June 9. One of them is what is nicknamed the “Zenith” Daytona, made at the time when Rolex was using Zenith movements. It was gifted to Newman in 1995, after participating in the 24 Hours of Daytona Race, where his team won first place in their GT-1 class. At the age of 70 years old, this made Newman the oldest man to win the race. The watch bears the inscription “Rolex at Daytona 24 Paul Newman Rolex Motorsports Man of the Year 1995.” It is estimated to sell for $500,000-$1-million.
Rolex Reference 16520 ‘Zenith’ Daytona.
Sotheby’s
The second Daytona was a gift from Paul Newman’s wife of 50 years, Joanne Woodward, who inscribed the caseback with “Drive Very Slowly, Joanne.” It is white gold – the only gold Daytona Newman owned – with a serial number that indicates it was made in 2006. It is estimated to sell for $500,000-$1-million.
Rolex Reference 116519 Daytona.
Sotheby’s
Newman was known to have a particular affinity with the Daytona – acquiring his first Daytona during the filming of ‘Winning’ (1969), which ignited a passion for auto racing that would last the rest of his life. The watches are part of a series of Sotheby’s sales consisting of more than 300 items being sold by the Woodward-Newman family. They were accumulated during the couple’s 50-year marriage. “Paul Newman is a name in the world of horology that has withstood the test of time,” Leigh Safar, head of sale, Important Watches & Specialist, Americas, said in a statement. “Newman cemented his legacy with watch collectors through his influence on Rolex’s most sought-after model, the Daytona.”