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Paul Newman’s 2 Rolex Daytonas sold for over US$1 million each, surpassing price estimations, at Sotheby’s New York – and one was a gift from his wife Joanne Woodward
STORYBloomberg
- Two of late actor, racing car driver and philanthropist Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytonas were just auctioned off, including a white-gold ‘Zenith’ and another with a black dial
- The former was presented to him after his 1995 24 Hours of Daytona Race victory at a record-breaking age 70, while the latter was 1 of 3 Daytona timepieces his Winning co-star wife Woodward gifted him
Two Rolex Daytonas that once belonged to Paul Newman sold separately for about US$1.1 million each in an auction held on Friday at Sotheby’s in New York.
Newman’s former timepieces went to bidders who engaged on the phone with Leigh Safar, the vice-president and specialist in Sotheby’s watches department, and the auction house confirmed the sales. It is unclear whether the same bidder got both of Newman’s Daytonas.
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A Rolex “Zenith” Daytona and a white gold Daytona worn and owned by the legendary Hollywood actor were the highlights of a special 134-lot sale, “Important Watches”. Both were estimated to sell for up to US$1 million, but the final bid prices reached US$900,000 for the “Zenith” Daytona and US$850,000 for the white gold Daytona; sales fees brought the final prices to US$1.143 million and US$1.08 million, respectively.
The Rolex “Zenith” Daytona was presented to Newman after he won the GTS-1 class at the 1995 24 Hours of Daytona Race. The remarkable achievement made Newman, at 70, the oldest driver to win the race, a record that still stands today in the Guinness World Records.
In 1999, Newman, famed for his philanthropic work, decided to auction the watch – which bore the inscription “Rolex at Daytona 24 Paul Newman Rolex Motorsports Man of the Year 1995” – during Antiquorum’s “Famous Faces” sale. At the time, it fetched a record sale of US$39,000 to benefit Newman’s charity.
Newman, however, was spotted wearing it again in the following years, sparking speculation that a close family member or friend had repurchased it for him. The timepiece held special significance and sentimental value for Newman, being intertwined with his racing career, as well as appealing to car enthusiasts.
