The “Paul Newman” Dial: From Flop to Fame

In the 1960s, Rolex released a variation of its Cosmograph Daytona with an exotic dial. It featured art deco-style numerals, a contrasting color scheme, and small square markers inside the subdials. Internally, Rolex called it a “Cosmograph with exotic dial,” and at the time, it didn’t sell well. Most customers preferred the cleaner, more traditional Daytona dial. But then came Paul Newman. The legendary actor, race car driver, and style icon was seen wearing this exact model, reference 6239 with the exotic dial, on the track, in movies, and in public. His wife, Joanne Woodward, had given it to him, engraved on the back with the words “Drive Carefully, Me.” Collectors eventually nicknamed this variation the “Paul Newman Daytona.” And what was once an overlooked dial became one of the most coveted in the watch world. In 2017, Paul Newman’s personal Daytona was auctioned at Phillips for $17.8 million, becoming the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at the time. Attribution for this photo: “Rolex "Paul Newman" Daytona - 6241” by Charlie J, CC BY 2.0