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T he Rolex Daytona is a legendary timepiece, revered for its blend of crisp aesthetics, technical functionality, and historical significance. Among the various models, the Paul Newman Rolex Daytona Panda stands out, not just for its distinctive look but also for its association with the actor and race car driver, Paul Newman. Here, we delve into the top five most expensive Rolex Daytona Panda watches sold at Sotheby's.
This Rolex Daytona Paul Newman Panda 6263, sold in December 2022 for 504,000 USD during Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in New York. Including all original accessories such as the presentation box, guarantee booklet dated December 6, 1971, and operating instructions, the complete nature of this lot made it a coveted trophy for Rolex Daytona collectors. The Rolex Daytona Paul Newman Panda featured a mark 1.5 Singer dial with a crisp ivory and black coloring. It was equipped with the correct 5-point Rolex crown, displaying only the coronet, and further recognized for its screw-down pushers enhancing water resistance. The art-deco style of the font and the hash marks with small squares on the subsidiary dial were characteristic of Paul Newman Rolex Daytona dials. This Rolex Paul Newman Daytona was historically tied to the endurance race ‘24 Hours of Daytona’ and the actor Paul Newman, establishing its place as one of the most iconic wristwatches of all time.
Considered a holy grail for many collectors, this Rolex Daytona Panda Paul Newman 6263 was consigned by the family of the original owner for sale during Sotheby’s Fine Watches auction in London in 2023. This piece achieved a sale price of 335,600 GBP. The rebooted ‘exotic’ dial from the mid-1960s featured a distinct triple-colored face with a step and sub-dials with Art-Deco numerals and square indexes, which later became known as the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman dial. The watch was in good condition, with a very clean bi-color mk1 dial, showing a crisp print and minimal water damage and discoloration. At the time of selling, the case had signs of polishing but maintained an honest and charismatic condition, with lume plots aged to a mixture of creams and darker tones. Today, the Rolex Daytona Panda Paul Newman, reference 6263, remains one of the most sought-after vintage Rolex watches.
This Rolex Daytona Panda "Paul Newman" Cosmograph 6263 sold for 500,000 USD in June 2020. Offered as a fresh-to-market model, this rarity amongst vintage models, aged beautifully thanks to the efforts of its original owner over the course of 50 years. The dial, referenced as a "Mark I.75" by collectors, had luminous hour markers aged to an attractive shade of caramel. The art-deco style of the font and the hash marks with small squares on the subsidiary dial were characteristic of "Paul Newman" dials. The watch retained its original Oyster bracelet, pushers, and bezel insert, enhancing its sporty aesthetic. In the world of vintage watches, a Rolex Daytona Panda Paul Newman dial is highly-sought after and incredibly valuable, which made this circa 1970 example particularly special.
This Rolex Daytona Paul Newman 6263 came to Sotheby’s from its sole and original owner for auction in November 2019, achieving a sale price of 412,500 CHF. A testament to Rolex’s expertise and the owner’s care, the watch had only been taken to a watchmaker once for movement verification and was otherwise untouched. The reference was in incredible condition and was acquired at Bucherer in the mid-1970s by its original and sole owner. The serial number 2'085'601 indicated a very early version of reference 6263, driving up its value to collectors. It featured an ‘MK 1 Panda’ dial with an ivory hue and MK1 bezel, corresponding to the first models produced. The first-generation ‘millerighe’ pushers and intact luminous dots on the dial highlighted the remarkable condition of this watch.”
This Rolex Daytona Panda Reference 6262 sold for 162,500 CHF, exceeding its estimate of 80,000 to 120,000 CHF. The last Rolex Daytona Panda Reference 6262 fitted with pump pushers, differed from its sister model ref. 6241, which had an acrylic calibrated bezel instead of today’s steel one. Introduced in 1970, it was powered by the new 727 Valjoux calibre. This lot was particularly attractive, having received a complete service by Rolex, restoring it to almost its original factory finish. The sharp lugs and metal-brushed finishing made it incredibly appealing on the wrist. This watch, with its unique features and restored condition, stood out among vintage Rolex Daytona models, which made it a prized possession for collectors. The Rolex Daytona Panda, especially the Paul Newman models, continues to captivate collectors worldwide. Each of these top-selling watches at Sotheby's showcases the unique blend of history, design, and provenance that makes the Rolex Daytona a timeless icon.
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