‘Paul Newman’ Dial Resurrected By Rolex For Special 24 Hours Of Le Mans Daytona

In a sense, the renowned Rolex «Paul Newman» Daytona is back. A special-edition Daytona commemorating the 24 Hours of Le Mans event was unveiled by Rolex over the weekend. Its appearance is akin to a watch known for its squared lollipop hash markings on the subdials.

It was dubbed the «Paul Newman» Daytona since it was the design that the actor actually wore. It was produced in extremely small quantities in six models between 1963 and 1987, all of which are popular collector’s items today. The most notable instance of it was a model owned by Newman that fetched $17.8 million at a Phillips auction in 2017.

The new timepiece is made of 18k white gold with a black Cerachrom (ceramic) bezel and commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Le Mans event. 100 is inscribed in red ceramic on the tachymeter scale.

Unusual for Rolex, the case opens at the rear to reveal the new movement. Along with new finishes and embellishments, such as bridges adorned with Rolex Côtes de Genève, the brand’s interpretation of a well-known decoration in watchmaking, with the addition of a slight polished groove between each band, the watch incorporates the Chronergy escapement and Paraflex shock absorbers. The oscillating weight with the cutout is made of 18k yellow gold. The watch comes with an Oyster bracelet made of solid gold that has an Oysterlock safety clasp and an Easylink comfort extension link.