Sotheby’s New York will sell two Rolex Daytonas in June owned by Paul Newman, the Hollywood legend and racing car driver associated with the world’s most expensive Rolex to sell at auction of all time.
Few will forget the Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona ref. 6239 sold by Phillips in 2017 for just under $18 million.
Sotheby’s expectations are not quite so lofty for a Rolex ref. 16520 ‘Zenith’ Daytona, which was given to Mr Newman in 1995 after he participated, at the age of 70, in the 24 Hours of Daytona Race and his team won the GT-1 class, the oldest driver ever to lift the trophy.
Rolex sponsored the race, and gave Mr Newman the watch, which is inscribed on the back with ‘Rolex at Daytona 24 Paul Newman Rolex Motorsports Man of the Year 1995’.
It has been consigned with Sotheby’s by the Estate of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, his wife until he passed in 2008.
An inscription on the back of the record-breaking Paul Newman Daytona contributed to its value. On it, Ms Woodward had engraved “DRIVE CAREFULLY ME” as a reminder of her concern at Mr Newman’s racing.
Sotheby’s has given it a pre-sale estimate of $500,000 to $1 million.
The second Daytona up for auction with Sotheby’s has a similar message from Ms Woodward to her husband.
The white gold Rolex Daytona Ref. 116519 was given to him just two years before his death in 2006, and carried the plea: “DRIVE VERY SLOWLY JOANNE”.
Sotheby’s says the watch, produced in 2006, was the only white gold Daytona ever owned by Mr Newman.
He was seen wearing it during his iconic Last Racing Laps at Lime Rock Park on August 13, 2008, and is said to be the last Daytona ever given to him by his wife.
It also has an estimate of $500,000 to $1 million.
Both go under the hammer at the New York’s Important Watches auction on Friday June 9.
Along with the Paul Newman-owned Daytonas, the sale will include a Rolex John Player Special Paul Newman Daytona, a Patek Philippe Ref. 5531R World Time Minute Repeater, and a Patek Philippe Ref. 5270 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph with a salmon dial double signed Tiffany & Co.
