Auction Held October 26, 2017. Who Will Win This Watch?

This is, after all, the very watch that gave its legendary nickname. Among collectors and enthusiasts, it's said that the reason the Rolex Daytona became so globally sought-after and collectible is due to the story behind the Paul Newman dial.

Indeed, Paul Newman wore many hats. He was an actor, director, race car driver, entrepreneur, family man, and philanthropist. A two-time Academy Award winner (including one for Best Actor), he was one of the most talented actors in American cinema.

In his 1969 starring role in the film "WINNING," he played a race car driver. His wife, Joanne Woodward, also appeared in the film as his on-screen wife. This role also marked the beginning of his successful career as a race car driver, culminating in a second-place finish at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans.

However, his wife Joanne was always worried about his safety, both on and off the film set. So, during or after the filming, she purchased what she considered the ultimate gift for her husband, likely from Tiffany & Co.: a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. This timepiece was specially designed for motorsports. Engraved on the case back are the words "DRIVE CAREFULLY ME," a heartfelt message from Joanne, reflecting her constant concern for his safety whenever he headed to the racetrack.

Joanne, a woman of remarkable intuition, chose a rare, special version of the Cosmograph Daytona. It featured what is known as the exotic dial, reference number 6239.

Reference 6239 was the first model of Rolex's iconic Cosmograph Daytona, produced from approximately 1963 to 1970. This model was the first chronograph from Rolex to feature a tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel, allowing for instant and clear speed measurements.

In the 1980s, as watch collecting began to gain serious momentum, Daytonas with exotic dials became known as the Paul Newman models, simply because people saw Newman himself wearing one for many years. The Paul Newman dial is characterized by the red "DAYTONA" text at 6 o'clock and red markers for the chronograph seconds. The subdials also have distinctive features: the numbers on the subdials are in a beautiful Art Deco font, and squares are used for the hour markers. This is what sets it apart from the standard Daytona dial.

The watch to be auctioned is this special reference 6239. It is considered the most significant Rolex "Paul Newman" Daytona among those that have been seen since the 1980s. The timepiece appearing at PHILLIPS' auction is the very one that the legendary figure wore daily and that has graced the pages of countless magazines and books over the years.

While Paul Newman went on to wear Daytonas from various eras, this was the first one he sported. As it is the only exotic dial Daytona he owned and wore, it can be considered the ultimate Rolex Daytona.

Page02.A Story Connected to His Eldest Daughter, "Nell"

A Story Connected to His Eldest Daughter, "Nell"

Paul Newman cherished this watch for approximately 15 years, until 1984. He then gifted it directly to the current consignor, marking a remarkable chapter in its history. The story that unfolds from here is connected to Elinor "Nell" Newman, the eldest daughter of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

Going back in time, 34 years ago—

Nell never flaunted her status as the daughter of a Hollywood star. In 1983, while attending college in Maine, she began dating James Cox, a fellow student. She kept her background discreet, even using the lesser-known stage name "Nell Potts."

During a dinner with friends, she brought along "Newman's Own" salad dressing, produced by a company her father had founded for charitable purposes. It was then that her boyfriend, James, began recounting a story about meeting Paul Newman himself as a child.

He recalled visiting a racetrack in Lime Rock with his father. James, a young boy then, was trying to photograph a race car from beyond the roped-off pit area. Paul Newman, dressed in his racing suit, noticed young James and beckoned him over to the track, suggesting he could get a better shot. That's when Paul Newman himself, in his racing gear, waved him over to the track, saying he could get a better photo.

This story prompted Nell to confess to James that her real name was Nell Newman.

In the summer of 1984, Nell and James stayed at the Newman family's home in Westport, Connecticut. James and Paul Newman decided to repair and rebuild the treehouse on the property, known as the "nook house." Joanne Woodward was so fond of this treehouse that she decided to purchase the house itself. For the Newmans, this treehouse was a cherished element of their "nook house" and a central part of their 50-year marriage.

Nell Newman recounted this story in a signed letter accompanying the watch, stating:

"The treehouse was high up in a large oak tree, cantilevered over the Aspetuck River that ran by the house we grew up in, in Westport, Connecticut. We owned two family homes, one on each side of the river. That summer, Dad was living in one of them, and James was living in the other. Dad would check in on James to see how the treehouse was coming along. During one of these visits, Dad asked James what time it was. Apparently, Dad had forgotten to wind his watch that morning. James replied that he didn't have a watch, so he didn't know. Dad then handed James his Rolex and said, 'If you remember to wind it every day, it will tell you the correct time.'"

The final bid is expected to exceed one million US dollars.

The final price was $17,752,500, approximately 2 billion yen. (This sentence was added on October 27, 2017.)

Note 1: About "Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo":
Phillips' team of watch specialists, committed to quality, transparency, and customer service, achieved sales exceeding $106 million in 2016, just two years after its founding. Phillips, which has set multiple world records for watch auction prices, became the undisputed leader in the global market in 2016 with only two sales locations (Geneva and Hong Kong).

Note 2: About "Phillips":
A global platform for buying and selling art and design from the 20th and 21st centuries. Specializing in 20th and contemporary art, design, photography, watches, and jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice for collectors. Auctions and exhibitions are held in salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, with services also available through representatives in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Online auctions are also held, accessible from anywhere in the world.