Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Breaking News – Phillips Sells Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Daytona for $17,752,500, Being The Most Expensive Wristwatch Ever Auctioned
This is it… This is the big one. The watch that the entire collecting community was expecting to see surfacing one day has gone under the hammer. This watch, as auctioneer Aurel Bacs explained to us in this video interview, is not only a celebrity’s watch; it represents much more than that. It’s the very watch that created an icon (the Paul Newman Daytona), the very watch that is, in fact, the reason why collecting steel sports watches is now so popular. Well, it’s official, Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Daytona has been sold just a few minutes ago, for a record price of over $17.7 Million, making it the most expensive wristwatch ever auctioned (and that’s with buyer’s premium).
As a reminder (all prices including buyer’s fees)
- $3,717,906 – The most expensive Rolex Daytona ever auctioned – the Oyster Paul Newman “The Legend” In Gold with Lemon dial, sold by Phillips at “Geneva Watch Auction: Five” on May 14th, 2017
- $5,060,427 – The most expensive Rolex ever auctioned – the Ref. 6062 ‘Bao Dai’, sold by Phillips at “Geneva Watch Auction: Five” on May 13th, 2017
- $11,136,642 – The most expensive wristwatch ever auctioned – the Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in steel (Perpetual Calendar Chronograph), sold by Phillips at “Geneva Watch Auction: Four” on November 12th, 2016
- Over $24,100,000 – The most expensive watch ever sold at auction, the Patek Philippe Supercomplication made for Henry Graves Jr., sold by Sotheby’s November 12th, 2014
So here we are, with Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Daytona, which, under the hammer of Aurel Bacs and Phillips Auctions, after an opening bid of no less than $10 Million, achieved a staggering $17,752,500 (inc. buyer’s premium – the final bid was $15,500,000), thanks to a bidder on the phone, in front of a packed saleroom of over 700 people. This price makes it the most expensive wristwatch ever auctioned, and also the most expensive Rolex and Daytona ever auctioned… Simply impressive!
Note: price with buyer’s premium is $17,752,500 / CHF 17,709,894 / € 15,228,095.
4 responses
The $ 17,752,500 question:- Who bought it ?
How would Armstrong’s Speedmaster do? Just curious….
Wondering what this will do to the price for all other PN refs. ?
To echo Aurel’s comments after the hammer fell, this is really Joanne Woodward’s “Paul Newman”. She selected and gifted the watch to her husband with the words “DRIVE CAREFULLY ME” engraved on the case back. Thus the legend was forged not of the fuel and fire of the racetrack, but of a simple, encouraging gesture by a wife to her beloved husband… Bravo Ms. Woodward!!!