Instead of its usual elaborate display, the store will illuminate its façade and frame the windows to highlight its flagship’s architecture.
Selling for $17.8M, Paul Newman’s Rolex Sets Record
An anonymous phone bidder bought the Ref. 6239 Cosmograph Daytona and made it the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction.
The late movie star’s Rolex Ref. 6239 Cosmograph Daytona led Phillips’s “Winning Icons--Legendary Watches of the 20 Century” sale in New York, its first in the city.
Previously owned by James Cox, the former boyfriend and current close friend of Newman’s daughter, it sold to an anonymous phone bidder after 12 minutes of activity.
According to Bloomberg, the starting $1 million bid was immediately followed by a $10 million bid, and the hammer almost came down at $15 million until a “showdown” in the last few minutes between two bidders.
The watch surpassed the previous record set by a stainless steel Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 that went for $11.1 million in November 2016 in Geneva, also sold by Phillips. (However, it still isn’t the most expensive timepiece of all. That honor continues to belong to the Henry Graves Supercomplication at $24.4 million.)
Prior to the sale, the auction house had estimated that Newman’s Rolex would go for “in excess of $1 million.”
Newman, in addition to being a two-time Academy Award winning actor, also was a director, entrepreneur, philanthropist and racecar driver, the latter of which grew from his role as Frank Capua in the 1969 film “Winning.”
He committed a lot of time to this part of his life, dedicating himself to training and going on to win a number of races.
But his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, was constantly was afraid he’d get into an accident, so she bought him the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, a watch designed specifically for motor sports, and had the caseback inscribed with these words: “Drive Carefully Me.”
She chose a rare and exclusive version of the Cosmograph Daytona to give to her husband, the Ref. 6239, which was the very first model of the brand’s iconic “Daytona” series, produced from about 1963 until 1970.
It also was the brand’s first chronograph with a tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel, designed to measure speed instantly and clearly.
During the 1980s, when the popularity of collecting wristwatches was growing, Daytonas fitted with this so-called exotic dial became known as “Paul Newman” Daytonas. Along with the red Daytona designation at 6 o’clock and the red outer seconds track, these watches also have subsidiary dials, Phillips said.
The Art Deco feel of the font and the hash marks with small squares used for the counters set them apart from the standard Daytona dials.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale will go to The Nell Newman Foundation, which supports organic food and sustainable agriculture, as well as the Newman’s Own Foundation.
In addition to Newman’s Rolex Daytona, Thursday’s sale included watches from some of the most important collectors of the last century.
A Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 sold for $975,000; a Philippe Dufour Duality garnered more than twice its pre-sale estimate at $915,000; and an Audemars Piguet Ref. 5516 went for slightly more than its estimate when it sold for $675,000.
For a full list of lots and results, visit Phillips.com.
The Latest
The new Grand Seiko boutique is located in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood.
Eleven spots are available for travelers to visit Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya from July 25 to Aug. 4.
From protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Phillips also sold a 1.21-carat fancy red diamond dubbed the “Red Miracle” for more than $1 million at its jewelry auction in Geneva.
From Swarovski to Tiffany & Co., jewelry retailers are enlisting celebrities to highlight their holiday offerings.
The 2024-2025 book introduces hundreds of new designs.
This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
Richemont’s jewelry sales ticked up 2 percent in the first half of the year, while watch sales plummeted 17 percent.
Offered by the lab since 2016, the holiday season special is good from now through mid-December.
The “Mikimoto Chrome Hearts” jewelry brings pearls from Mikimoto together with distinctive motifs from Chrome Hearts.
These earrings use flat-backed white quartz to create a window onto an antique ribbon embroidered with a floral design.
This year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards included a new category for engagement rings and a new award highlighting female designers.
Plus, CEO Beth Gerstein shares her insight on the holiday season and the possibility of new tariffs.
The month’s birthstones, citrine and blue topaz, reflect the changing colors of the season.
The “Carey Lowell x Sidney Garber” collection stems from the friendship between the jewelry designer and ceramicist.
The two ads highlight diamond engagement rings and diamond studs with a straightforward approach.
In 2025, the nonprofit plans to continue its support of longstanding partners while also allocating some funds to a new initiative.
The Rolex watches are from the collection of “Titanic” co-producer Alfred “Al” Giddings and will go up for sale at Sotheby’s next month.
The Danish jewelry company plans to open up to 150 concept stores this fiscal year.
The location will close by the end of the year due to it being financially unsustainable, GIA said.
The new campaign stars Sterling K. Brown, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Winnie Harlow, Kyle Kuzma, Arizona Muse, and Iris Law.
One lucky winner will receive a “Lizzie” diamond bracelet.
Samantha Larson has joined the Boston-based retailer.
The Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program will guide retail jewelry entrepreneurs through an eight-month educational curriculum.
Ten chosen designers will receive mentorship and participate in a design contest for the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award.
Dana J. Lorberg brings 35 years of experience in finance, technology, and strategy to the role.