More than 300 objects that belonged to Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward will be sold next June at Sotheby’s, in New York, during a series of unprecedented auctions. Expected by collectors around the world, the sale will present two iterations of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona which had sentimental value for the American actor, also a philanthropist, racing driver and great aficionado of beautiful gears. Passed under the watchmaking sphere’s radar, these two treasures were found a few years ago by his daughter, Nell Newman, who was looking for a pencil in her late father’s office. Kept until then in a box before their unsuspected (re)discovery, the watches are now resurfacing under the hammer and should drive the counters crazy.
The first is a very special 1993 “Zenith” Daytona reference that has always resided with the heirs of the Newman-Woodward family. It was received by Paul Newman in 1995 when he, at the age of 70, took part in the 24 hours of the Daytona Race, where his team had won first place in the GT-1 category. During this race, he was the oldest driver to have lifted the trophy. The second myth put up for auction is a Daytona ref. 116519. This white gold variant is one of three crown brand chronographs given to Paul Newman by his wife who had the caseback engraved with the phrase “Drive Very Slowly Joanne”. A watch seen on the wrist of the star during his iconic last laps at Lime Rock Park on August 13, 2008. These two pieces of history are expected between 500,000 and one million euros. A conservative estimate if we remember that in 2017 at Phillips, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239 of the actor had flown for 15.3 million euros. Case to follow. “Important Watches”, June 9, 2023, Sotheby’s New York.
On May 23 in Hong Kong, Phillips will auction a Patek Philippe Calatrava in platinum ref. 96 Calendar Moon. A historical object estimated at 25 million HK dollars, or 2.9 million euros and having belonged to Aisin-Giro Puyi whose story was told in the film The Last Emperor by Bernardo Bertolucci which had won the Oscar of the best film in 1988. Xuantong – his reign name – was, indeed, the twelfth and last Chinese emperor of the Qing dynasty.
Becoming Emperor of China in 1908 at the age of 2, he was forced to abdicate in 1912, becoming the last monarch of the 276-year Qing reign. Captured by the Russian forces, he took with him various objects including this Patek Philippe which fell into the hands of his interpreter, Georgy Permyakov. This watch, which is now reappearing on the market, is the eighth reference from the Geneva brand with this exact dial configuration. One of them is kept at the Patek Philippe Museum while a second was sold in 1996 to a private collector for more than 2 million euros. “The Imperial Patek Philippe Sale”, May 23, 2023, Phillips Hong Kong.
In total, Roger Smith only made three pocket watches. Number 1, deemed insufficient by the great master watchmaker George Daniels. Number 3, made to order and still in private hands. And number 2, produced between 1992 and 1997, finally approved by Daniels and kept by Smith until 2004. Since then, the watch had not been seen publicly. Equipped with a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon with spring escapement, this extremely rare piece will be auctioned on June 10 at Phillips in New York. His estimate? At least a million euros. “New York Watch Auction: Eight”, June 10-11, 2023, Phillips New York.
