Paul Newman's First Daytona

[clarkhardball]

With the recent discovery of PN's 6239 and the entire watchworld buzzing about it (and how much it will fetch at auction), I am inclined to ask - what were Mr. Newman's other watches? A quick search led me to none other than Jake's blog:

http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2010/05...ewman.html?m=1

What I found particularly interesting is Page 2 - where it delves into PN's FIRST DAYTONA! A black 6263 given by Mrs. Newman in 1972.

http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2002/03...ytona.html?m=1

The source of this claim comes from a 2003 interview with PN himself by Rolex historian John Brozek (The Rolex Report)

http://www.qualitytyme.net/pages/rol...n_daytona.html

Mr. Brozek repeats this claim in another article dated 2005, I have highlighted an excerpt below for your viewing pleasure:

http://www.qualitytyme.net/pages/rol...30daytona.html



Now a black 6263 purchased new in 1972 cannot be a Big Red. And since these were reported to be very slow sellers, it is also highly improbable that they were sigma dials. I would put my money on an earlier dial configuration.

What are the logical options, considering PN was given this as a present in '72? He was photographed with it extensively, I would even go as far as saying, he was photographed wearing it more than the exotic dial. But the quality of the pics aren't really definitive.



Btw, it is important to note that PN was still wearing his 6263 during the Brozek interview in 2003 - 31 years after receiving it from his wife, and 19 years after he gave away his exotic dial 6239 to James Potts (according to Hodinkee). He wore this one the most.

One has to wonder, what exactly is this 6263 he is wearing, and where is it today??? Looks to me given the particular provenance and the duration he wore it, this would be a very sentimental timepiece for PN himself. I know everyone is crazy about the exotics, but the fact that Joanne gave him this watch and the years he was photographed wearing it attests that it has got to be his favorite, or at least one of them. He has been seen wearing this 6263 on a fatstrap, on its original oyster, on a heavy oyster, and even on a jubilee!!! The guy loved this watch! There is the Exotic Paul Newman Daytona we all know - and then there is Paul Newman's trusty Daytona which he wore for at least 3 decades.









Images are from Jake's Rolex Site
www.rolexmagazine.com