Keeping Time in New York at Phillips, From Rolex to Cartier

At first, the Daytona series didn’t sell as well as other watches in the Rolex line. Yet after the style gained a famous wearer— Paul Newman— the watch came to nearly eclipse other styles in popularity. Newman often wore his reference 6239 Daytona watch in movies and at car races, and the design eventually became known as the “Paul Newman John Player Special.” An edition of this watch is featured in the New York Watch Auction, offered by Phillips. The available John Player Special has never appeared at auction, and fewer than 300 examples of this specific design were ever made.

This sale offers a variety of Rolex watches, including another version of the Paul Newman with a champagne dial and Daytona logo. Beyond Rolex watches, the catalog presents examples of the George Daniels Edward Hornby tourbillon pocket watch, a gem-set Cartier Baignoire Joaillerie (also known as “Tutti Frutti”), a Patek Philippe reference 699/3J (retailed by Tiffany & Co.), and more. View any of these lots and register to bid by visiting Phillips.