WatchesApr 04, 2023
Here’s Everything New Rolex Has to Offer in 2023AuctionsApr 12, 2023
2 More of Newman’s Own Rolex Watches Head to Auction
Paul Newman’s Rolex Ref. 16520 “Zenith” Daytona and a Rolex Ref. 116519 Daytona will go up for auction June 9 at Sotheby’s.
Actor and watch collector Paul Newman’s Rolex “Zenith” Daytona, left, and another Daytona that was a gift from wife Joanne Woodward are the highlights of Sotheby’s upcoming “Important Watches” auction.
New York—Two more Rolex watches that belonged to film icon, racecar driver and watch enthusiast Paul Newman will go up for auction this spring at Sotheby’s, the auction house announced late last month.
A Rolex Ref. 16520 “Zenith” Daytona and a Rolex Ref. 116519 Daytona will hit the auction block June 9 in New York as the headlining lots of Sotheby’s “Important Watches” auction.
Newman received the Zenith Daytona in 1995 when, at age 70, he became the oldest driver to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona, a 24-hour endurance race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
A Rolex Ref. 16520 “Zenith” Daytona and a Rolex Ref. 116519 Daytona will hit the auction block June 9 in New York as the headlining lots of Sotheby’s “Important Watches” auction.
Newman received the Zenith Daytona in 1995 when, at age 70, he became the oldest driver to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona, a 24-hour endurance race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Paul Newman’s Rolex Ref. 16520 “Zenith” Daytona is an automatic chronograph in stainless steel with a bracelet. It was made by Rolex in 1993.
He received the watch when he won the 24 Hours of Daytona race in 1995 and was named Rolex Motorsports “Man of the Year.”
The Oscar winner and champion racer put the watch up for auction at Antiquorum in 1999, where it sold for $39,000, money that went to Newman’s charity, The Hole in the Wall Gang.
However, Sotheby’s said, Newman was seen wearing the watch later in life, leading to speculation that a member of his family bought it back for him at some point.
The Ref. 116519 Daytona, meanwhile, was a gift from Newman’s wife and fellow Oscar-winning actor Joanne Woodward, the last of three she gave to him during the course of their relationship.
Newman wore the circa 2006 watch later in life, including on Aug. 13, 2008, when he took his last lap as a racecar driver, circling Lime Rock Park in Salisbury, Connecticut.
He died about a month later at 83.
A gift from wife Joanne Woodward, Newman’s Ref. 116519 Daytona is an 18-karat white gold automatic chronograph with a black dial from 2006. It is the only precious metal Daytona the actor ever owned, Sotheby’s said.
Woodward had this message inscribed on the caseback.
As she did with Newman’s own “Paul Newman Daytona,” which sold for a record-setting $17.8 million in 2017, Woodward had a loving note of caution inscribed on the back of this Rolex, too.
“Drive very slowly,” it reads.
While both watches being offered this spring at Sotheby’s are Rolex Daytonas owned by Paul Newman, neither one is a “Paul Newman Daytona,” a term applied to six specific references with “exotic” dials, starting with the Ref. 6239.
The pre-sale estimate for both is $500,000 to $1 million.
While the timepieces will headline Sotheby’s “Important Watches” auction, they are being sold against the backdrop of a series of dedicated sales of personal items that belonged to Newman, who died in 2008, and Woodward, who is 93 and has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the last 16 years.
“The World of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman” auctions will take place both in person and online in June and feature more than 300 individual items including film memorabilia, family photographs and antique furniture, as well as Woodward’s wedding dress and ring.
Sotheby’s said the sales will “closely trail” the events of their lives as told in “The Last Movie Stars,” the Ethan Hawke-helmed six-part documentary series about the couple that first aired on HBOMax last summer.
“Paul Newman is a name in the world of horology that has withstood the test of time. Newman cemented his legacy with watch collectors through his influence on Rolex’s most sought-after model, the Daytona,” Sotheby’s watch specialist Leigh Safar said.
As Rolex celebrates 60 years of the Daytona this year, we are proud to share in that milestone and present two models worn and owned by the Hollywood legend, which narrates the everlasting love he shared with his wife, Joanne, and his deep passion for racing. We are grateful to the Woodward Newman family for choosing Sotheby’s to present their parents’ collection to the world, with these watches standing as one of the most coveted and highly prized in the world.”
Sotheby’s officially unveiled and exhibited Newman’s Rolex Daytona watches April 1-7 in Hong Kong, coinciding with events held to mark the auction house’s 50th anniversary in Asia.
There, the timepieces had some very valuable company. The 10.57-carat purplish-pink diamond expected to break jewelry auction records also was unveiled in Hong Kong as part of the anniversary festivities.
Newman’s Rolex Daytonas are set to make stops in Los Angeles and Geneva, among other locations, before arriving in New York ahead of Sotheby’s June 9 Important Watches auction.
More on Auctions
The Latest
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in AtlantaIt’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
TrendsJul 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Double Loop’ EarringsCommemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest StateEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price StabilityAs the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionSponsored by Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ MarketLab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionGIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard DiesA longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2 The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 BackpacksThe fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High JewelryThe Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance ProviderUnion Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship WinnerLos Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod VacationThe giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ CampaignThe ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
Policies & IssuesJul 23, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant WinnersThe grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
CrimeJul 22, 2024
Florida Jeweler Shot, Killed Following Argument With CustomerGhazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2024
JVC’s Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez Joins RJCThe organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEORentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor BoutiqueThe 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ NecklaceDance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
