The Rolex Daytona is an iconic watch for so many reasons. It is an excellent vintage chronograph, worn on the wrists of Hollywood stars and famous sportsmen alike. Its popularity seems to know no bounds, what was once a tool watch – a chronograph – is now a luxury item that sells for tens of millions of dollars. So, we wanted to explore the five most expensive Rolex Daytonas ever sold, ranked in order of price, and interestingly all of them sold by Phillips!
1. Paul Newman's 'Paul Newman' Rolex Daytona - $17.8 million USD
Paul Newman’s ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona ref. 6239 / Credit: Phillips
In October 2017, Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, sold the Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona ref. 6239 that once belonged to Paul Newman himself. This iconic timepiece sold for $17,752,500, including the buyer’s premium of 12.5%.
What made this Rolex ref. 6239 so expensive? Well, this was the Rolex Daytona that started the ‘Paul Newman’ phenomenon in the first place! The very watch that the famous actor, Paul Newman, wore throughout the 1970s and 1980s. A gift from his wife in the late 1960s, this Daytona is engraved “Drive Carefully Me” and was a gift to his daughter’s ex-boyfriend – who sold it in 2017. A legendary story for a legendary timepiece – vintage Rolex Daytona. This watch is also the most expensive Rolex ever sold. See more.
2. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6265 ‘Unicorn’ - $6.0 million USD
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6265 ‘Unicorn’/ Credit: Phillips
Second on our list is a rare and interesting Rolex Daytona indeed. Sold in 2018 in a Phillips charity auction by famed collector John Goldberger, this Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is called the ‘Unicorn’ for good reason – it is in white gold and wasn’t even known to exist until 2013. This Cosmograph Daytona watch was made on special order for a customer in 1970 and delivered in 1971. It is a one-off creation only for the luckiest of buyers, truly unique. See more.
3. Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 - $5.5 million USD
Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 / Credit: Phillips
Number three is another watch owned by Paul Newman, however not the same that inspired the moniker ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona. This Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 was still a gift from his wife like the other; this one bought in 1983. It was also the Rolex Daytona that Newman was thought to have worn the most, given as a gift to his daughter, Clea Newman Soderlund, in 2008 before his passing. Another Paul Newman-related legend, another Rolex that sold for millions for its extraordinary history. See more.
4. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6263 ‘The Legend’ - $3.8 million USD
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6263 ‘The Legend’ / Credit: Phillips
‘The Legend’, this Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6263 that sold for $3.8 million in 2018 is one of two known examples of the yellow gold ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona. Its elusiveness gave it the nickname ‘The Legend’, as for a long time this model was lost to collectors; thought not to exist. With its classic sub-dial design and “Oyster Cosmograph” right under the Rolex branding at 12 o’clock, this classic chronograph was powered by the Valjoux 72-based Rolex Cal. 727, with 17 jewels and a 48-hour power reserve. This vintage Rolex Daytona was made in the earliest stages of the reference’s production, in 1969. Its rarity and popularity among collectors led to it selling for a price of nearly $4 million! Or around the price of a nice house in Midtown, Toronto. See more.
5. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6240 ‘The Neanderthal’ - $3.0 million USD
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6240 ‘The Neanderthal’ / Credit: Phillips
Finally, we have the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6240, known as ‘The Neanderthal’, is a ‘pre-Newman’ Daytona, dated back to 1966 and in stainless steel. While not a vintage Rolex connected to any famous person on the level of Paul Newman or a unique model made in a precious metal, this Rolex Daytona ref. 6240 is special for its dial configuration.
The dial configuration of this Rolex is unique in that it shares the sub-dial design of its successor the ‘Paul Newman’ but was produced before it. Supposedly a unique production, an experiment in dial design that proved to be a success. This Rolex Daytona ref. 6240 is also unique for its lack of ‘Oyster’ or ‘Daytona’ designations on the dial. Simple, clean, and iconic. An insight into Rolex design history worth over $3 million. See more.
So, any surprises here? The most expensive Rolex Daytonas ever sold are either connected to Paul Newman directly or unique/experimental models thought not to exist. It doesn’t get much better than that in the world of vintage watches.
By: Andres Ibarguen
A vintage Rolex Sky-Rocket, recently serviced, for sale on Toronto Vintage Watches.