AuctionsAug 03, 2022
Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker’s ‘Lost’ Jewelry Coming to AuctionAuctionsAug 12, 2022
2 Rolexes Paul Newman Gave to Stuntman Stan Barrett Head to Auction
The sale also will include a third Rolex, with all three watches tied to Barrett’s 1979 attempt to break the world record for land speed.
PHOTO This stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” watch is one of three watches belonging to stuntman and racecar driver Stan Barrett set to go up for auction at Sotheby’s New York on Dec. 9. (Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)
PHOTO Barrett’s good friend Paul Newman gave him this watch when Barrett tried to break—or broke, as some would argue—the world record for speed on land. Newman had the back engraved to mark his friend’s feat. (Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)
PHOTO Newman also gave Barrett this stainless steel Ref. 6262 Rolex Daytona. Barrett was wearing both watches when he made his record attempt on Dec. 17, 1979. (Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)
New York—Two Rolex watches Paul Newman gifted longtime friend Stan Barrett, a Hollywood stuntman who shared Newman’s passion for racing cars, are going up on the block later this year at Sotheby’s New York.
The watches, a stainless steel GMT-Master “Pepsi” and a stainless steel Ref. 6262 Daytona, are the timepieces Barrett wore on Dec. 17, 1979 when he drove the Budweiser Rocket Car in an attempt to become the first man to go faster than the speed of sound on land.
Racing across a dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, he was clocked at an estimated 739.66 mph but it did not go down as an official record because of malfunctioning radar scanners and the fact that no one heard a “sonic boom.”
As a stuntman in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Barrett worked with a lot of the big stars of the day including John Wayne and Burt Reynolds. He was Newman’s stunt double in 1971’s “Sometimes a Great Notion.”
The men’s friendship spanned 40 years (Newman is the godfather to both of Barrett’s sons), as they bonded over their love of cars, racing and adventure as well as, according to Sotheby’s, watches.
Sotheby’s estimates the GMT-Master with the Pepsi dial will sell for $50,000 to $100,000 while the estimate on the Daytona, $300,000 to $500,000, is much higher because it was Newman’s personal watch that he gave to Barrett.
Newman was known for gifting watches to family and friends, and he had the back of the Pepsi GMT he gave to Barrett engraved after his speed-record attempt. “STAN BARRETT 739 MPH MACH 1.0206 12-17-79,” it reads.
The watches, a stainless steel GMT-Master “Pepsi” and a stainless steel Ref. 6262 Daytona, are the timepieces Barrett wore on Dec. 17, 1979 when he drove the Budweiser Rocket Car in an attempt to become the first man to go faster than the speed of sound on land.
Racing across a dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, he was clocked at an estimated 739.66 mph but it did not go down as an official record because of malfunctioning radar scanners and the fact that no one heard a “sonic boom.”
As a stuntman in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Barrett worked with a lot of the big stars of the day including John Wayne and Burt Reynolds. He was Newman’s stunt double in 1971’s “Sometimes a Great Notion.”
The men’s friendship spanned 40 years (Newman is the godfather to both of Barrett’s sons), as they bonded over their love of cars, racing and adventure as well as, according to Sotheby’s, watches.
Sotheby’s estimates the GMT-Master with the Pepsi dial will sell for $50,000 to $100,000 while the estimate on the Daytona, $300,000 to $500,000, is much higher because it was Newman’s personal watch that he gave to Barrett.
Newman was known for gifting watches to family and friends, and he had the back of the Pepsi GMT he gave to Barrett engraved after his speed-record attempt. “STAN BARRETT 739 MPH MACH 1.0206 12-17-79,” it reads.
Anheuser-Busch CEO August Busch gave Stan Barrett this yellow gold Rolex GMT Ref. 1675 for his world record attempt in the Budweiser Rocket Car. (Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Like Paul Newman, Busch had the back engraved on the Rolex he gifted Barrett. (Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Stan Barrett wearing the two Rolexes from Paul Newman after his race in the Budweiser Rocket Car in 1979. (Photo courtesy of Stan Barrett via Sotheby’s)
Both estimates seem conservative considering the history of Newman-connected watches at auction.
In 2017, Newman’s own 1968 Ref. 6239 Cosmograph Daytona—the very model that became known among collectors as the “Paul Newman Daytona” in the 1980s—sold for a record-setting $17.8 million at auction.
The third Rolex included in the Sotheby’s sale, a yellow gold GMT Ref. 1675 (estimate $50,000 to $100,000), was a gift from Anheuser-Busch CEO August Busch.
Busch had “Stan Barrett – Driver – Budweiser Rocket Car 739.66MPH December 17 1979” engraved on the back.
“These three watches—personal gifts between friends and colleagues—carry more historical significance than just their benefactors,” said Jonathon Burford, Sotheby’s Watches Specialist. “Inextricably linked to a feat of human exploration, they represent a slice of American history itself and will no doubt appeal to watch connoisseurs and racing enthusiasts alike.”
The three watches will go on display for the first time from Aug. 17-20 in Monterey, California, coinciding with an auction there.
After that, the timepieces will make stops in Dubai, Hong Kong, Geneva and Los Angeles.
The watches will be the highlights of Sotheby’s Dec. 9 Important Watches auction in New York.
Now 79, Barrett became a philanthropist over the years, first working with Newman’s “The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp,” a camp for seriously ill children, and in more recent years dedicating his time to other children’s charities.
He will donate an unspecified portion of the sale’s proceeds to charitable causes.
Newman died in 2008 at age 83. More about his career as an actor, race car driver and philanthropist as well as his long marriage to fellow actor and Oscar winner Joanne Woodward can be seen in the documentary “The Last Movie Stars,” currently streaming on HBOMax.
More on Auctions
The Latest
TrendsJun 20, 2025
Dua Lipa Stays On-Trend With Chunky Engagement RingThe singer’s ring ticks off many bridal trends, with a thick band, half-bezel setting, and solitaire diamond.
TrendsJun 20, 2025
Piece of the Week: Yvonne Léon’s ‘Python Gold’ BraceletThe bracelet references vintage high jewelry and snake symbolism as a playful piece where a python’s head becomes a working belt buckle.
CrimeJun 18, 2025
7 Men Indicted in $100M Brinks Jewelry HeistThe heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
EditorsJun 18, 2025
Q&A: Caryl Capeci Dives Into Cruise Jewelry ShoppingThe Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.
Weekly QuizJun 20, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsJun 18, 2025
Kirk Kara Celebrates 135 Years With New JewelsTo mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.
SourcingJun 18, 2025
Gemfields Sells 36-Carat Rough RubyThe gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
TechnologyJun 18, 2025
Alex Brown Named President of Smithee GroupFounder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.
EditorsJun 17, 2025
The Best New Jewelry from Couture 2025, Part 1Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.
ColumnistsJun 17, 2025
Peter Smith: Is Your Comp Plan a Hiring Hindrance?If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.
AuctionsJun 17, 2025
Colored Gemstones, Signed Jewels Shine in Sotheby’s High Jewelry SaleThe top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.
MajorsJun 17, 2025
Amanda Gizzi Gets a Promotion at JAGizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.
MajorsJun 17, 2025
Kering Names Automotive Exec as Its New CEOLuca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.
EditorsJun 16, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Mining, Tariffs, and the Energy of Las VegasFollowing visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.
IndependentsJun 16, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Launches Commitment Campaign Celebrating LGBTQ+ CouplesThe “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos Joins Tiffany & Co.The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.
MajorsJun 16, 2025
Catbird Names WNBA Star Nyara Sabally as Its New Brand AmbassadorThe New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.
CollectionsJun 13, 2025
Piece of the Week: Robinson Pelham’s Pear EarringsTake a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.
Events & AwardsJun 13, 2025
AGA to Host ‘Diamonds From Mine to Market’ Education ConferenceThe one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.
EditorsJun 12, 2025
15 Questions With Jewelry Photographer Ella SophieThe California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Vintage Patek Philippe From the ‘50s Sells for $4M at Sotheby’s Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.
Events & AwardsJun 12, 2025
Gabriel Love Foundation Introduces Scholarship Honoring Elias GabrielThe foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.
AuctionsJun 12, 2025
Former De Beers Exec Celine Assimon Joins BonhamsAssimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.
EditorsJun 11, 2025
Q&A: Al Cook on Differentiating Natural Diamonds, Traceability, and TariffsThe De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”
MajorsJun 11, 2025
Pandora Bets on Las Vegas for First North American FlagshipThe Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.
GradingJun 11, 2025
Tiffany Stevens Exits IGI, Lab Appoints New Board LeaderIndustry veteran Anoop Mehta is the new chairman and independent director of the IGI board.
