The 1968 Daytona Rolex owned by Paul Newman

Who needs emergency funds when you have the equivalent of a Swiss bank account on your wrist? Yes, a luxury timepiece is one of the greatest indulgences a man can enjoy. Some pieces are a step above the usual fare in the showcase, like the 1968 Daytona Rolex owned by Paul Newman and the Patek Philippe 20-function piece that broke records when it sold at the OnlyWatch charity auction. Both once known as the world’s most expensive watches, to which you’ll need a few lives worth of savings to bid for one of these valued timepieces.

Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, producer, race car driver, IndyCar owner, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

The legendary 1968 Daytona Rolex owned by Paul Newman is considered a timeless relic amongst collectors and fans for decades. It appeals to people way beyond the watch world. Having roots and ties in so many collecting communities, from watch aficionados to the film industry ‘Hollywood memorabilia’ and motorsports and car fanatics. It is also a piece of Americana, so it appeals to the American history community. A unique timepiece “gifted to Paul Newman by his wife Joanne Woodward is engraved with the message “Drive Carefully” in reference to his love for racing in 1968.

This timepiece is not only unique by who owned it and it’s sentimental meaning but it is also known as one of the most expensive wrist-watch ever made, given the price tag of £1,000,000, which after 12 minutes of bidding was sold to a bidder on the telephone, setting a new record for the highest price ever achieved for a wristwatch at auction. This unique black-and-creme exotic dial was eventually sold to an undisclosed phone buyer for $17.8 million a record for a wristwatch at auction – the equivalent of 9,030 2017 Rolex Daytonas!

At this time it the most expensive wristwatch ever made, until after a five-minute bidding war for Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime became the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction, beating out the Paul Newman legendary Daytona Rolex.

You may be wondering what’s so unusual and unique about this dail design, that made it so valuable? The Rolex Daytona has an unusual “exotic” dial design and a unique art deco style dial, with about 2,000 to 3,000 of this type of dial ever done in the world.

The current owner, James Cox a former boyfriend of Newman’s daughter Nell, owned the watch since 1984 when Paul Newman gave it to him. Cox didn’t know how valuable it was until a Japanese man excitedly recognized it as a “Paul Newman watch” at a trade show in 1993.

He probably shouldn’t have been surprised that an aficionado recognized the timepiece. Newman had worn it in countless photographs—on magazine shoots, the red carpet, and, of course, when he raced. The actor had become an enthusiastic race car driver after learning about the sport for the 1969 film Winning, in which he co-starred with his wife Joanne Woodward.

James Cox donated a significant portion of the sale price to the Nell Newman Foundation. To think that at that time that Newman gave the watch to James Cox, the watch was selling for about $200 and today’s selling price is $17.8 million if you ask us, that is quite a return on investment!

We’ve all heard about Paul Newman Daytonas, it turns out the 1968 Daytona Rolex wasn’t the only one owned by Paul Newman. Out of a collection of 6 Daytona Rolex, we wonder what makes these legacy timepieces so unique? It turns out it is not simply because Paul Newman wore them, but also due to the rarity of these 6 models and the fact that they are very exotic and elegant, each Paul Newman Rolex Daytona is different in its own unique way.

Around the 1970s and 1980s, it gained most of its popularity making these timepieces very desirable for collectors and Rolex enthusiasts.

Below is a brief summary of the models:

6239- Non-Oyster case, with steel bezel, calibre 722, three color dial (black, white,and red), Oyster bracelet.

6241-Non-Oyster case, black acrylic bezel,calibre 722, three color dial (black, white,and red), Oyster bracelet.

6262- Non-Oyster case, steel bezel, calibre 722, three color dial (black, white,and red), Oyster bracelet.

6264- Non-Oyster case, black acrylic, calibre 727, black and white dial colors or 3 color dial as well, Oyster bracelet.

6265- Oyster case, steel bezel, calibre 727,black and white dial colors or 3 color dial as well, Oyster bracelet.

6263- Oyster case, black acrylic bezel, calibre 727, black and white dial,Oyster bracelet.

If you own a Daytona Rolex on a leather strap, or Daytona oyster bracelet or ceramic bezel oyster bracelet you can style and revolutionize your classic timepiece into an almost brand new looking watch, that will not only be more affordable than a brand new watch, but it will also be custom made to your acquired taste.

 A new strap to a watch can be an entire game-changer when it comes to style and revolutionizing a classic design. Therefore, here’s your guide of Vulcanized Rubber straps engineered to fit your Rolex Daytona. You may select depending if you would like to keep your deployant buckle, change to tang buckle, velcro series, or SwimSkin® rubber cuff.

Rubber B offers diverse options, colors, and styles to match your style. Furthermore, these straps utilize “Blocked Integration” engineering, incorporating solid inserts for a flawless, motionless flush mount to the watch case.

For more information, head to: rubberb.com