Paul Newman’s watch sells for a record £13.5million
IT has a striking face and timeless appeal – just like its famous owner.
This rare Rolex was worn by Paul Newman every day for 15 years – and appeared in countless photos of the Hollywood idol.
Now it has become the most expensive wristwatch ever sold after it was yesterday snapped up for a world record £13.5million.
Newman, who died in 2008, received the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona as a present from his wife Joanne Woodward in 1968.
She bought the timepiece from Tiffany & Co in New York for $300 and had it engraved with the message ‘drive carefully me’ as his motor racing career took off.
Dubbed by experts the Holy Grail of watches, the timepiece was bought by an anonymous phone bidder at Phillips auction house in New York. It is almost
‘Drive carefully’
four times as pricey as any other Rolex. Newman, whose films include The Hustler and Cool Hand Luke, gave the watch away in the 1980s to James Cox, the boyfriend of the star’s daughter Nell. Mr Cox, who was staying with the family one summer, didn’t own a watch – so the Hollywood star gave him his.
He and Nell Newman split after ten years but remained good friends and decided to sell the watch jointly at auction.
Mr Cox realised the item was becoming more and more valuable when a stranger, who couldn’t speak much English, pointed at the watch, saying ‘Paul Newman watch’. The stainless steel Rolex, which has become known as the ‘ Paul Newman’ Daytona, is designed specifically for racing drivers. It was named after the Daytona speedway track in Florida. It has a number of subtle differences over a standard Daytona model including red outer dials and Art Deco- style fonts. Paul Boutros, of Phillips Auctioneers, said the Rolex was ‘arguably the most iconic collector’s wristwatch of the 20th century’.
He said: ‘Paul Newman wore the watch daily until 1983 when he gifted it to James Cox, the boyfriend of his daughter Nell. He never wore a watch so when he was asked the time he would say, “it’s a hair past a freckle”.
‘One day, James was building a treehouse and Paul Newman came outside and asked him the time. James gave his usual answer and Paul Newman threw him the Rolex. He said, “take this – it keeps good time”.’
Newman, who won an Oscar for the 1986 film The Color of Money, was also a respected racing driver who won numerous races in the 1970s. His love of the sport came after he starred with Woodward in the 1969 film Winning about a racing car driver. He took it up first as a hobby and later as professional – winning four national championships and finishing second in the 1979 Le Mans 24-hour race. He died aged 83 in 2008.