Sotheby's Important Watches Live Auction: 10 June 2021 New York

Sotheby’s June Important Watches sale in New York on 10 June will feature a distinguished and curated selection of timepieces ranging from modern icons by Greubel Forsey, Audemars Piguet, and F.P. Journe, as well as exceptional vintage models by Patek Philippe, Cartier, Rolex, and many more.

The sale will be on public exhibition at our York Avenue galleries from 4 – 9 June as part of Sotheby’s Luxury Week, a series of nine auctions spanning the fastest growing categories in the Luxury sphere.

The auction is highlighted by two Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Daytonas. The pair is led by a yellow gold Reference 6241 Daytona Paul Newman 'John Player Special' circa 1968 (estimate $500,000/1,000,000). Fittingly aligned with Rolex’s designation of the watch as the “Official Timepiece of Pan American World Airways” which can be used by  “pilots, navigators, or passengers of a small plane”,  the watch was given to the original owner by his parents on June 5th, 1972, marking the earning of his pilot’s license in 1971, along with his date of graduation in 1972 – which is endearingly engraved on the gold chronograph’s caseback. Ensuring impeccable performance and tasteful aesthetics while under the pressure of demanding professional applications, the watch was relied upon as a trusted companion throughout the majority of the pilot’s career. Affectionately named for its resemblance to the black and gold livery of John Player Special sponsored Team Lotus cars of the 1970s, this watch evokes the excitement and boundary-pushing opulence of Formula One racing. This exceptionally rare variant of an already rare watch is characterized by the pairing of a black and gold contrasted Paul Newman dial with a yellow gold case. With the total production of reference 6241 Daytonas amounting to roughly 3000 examples over the course of just three years, it is estimated that only an exceedingly small fraction of these watches were both cased in gold and fitted with black Paul Newman dials, explaining the exceptional infrequency with which fresh to market examples surface. Further testament to the watch’s rarity is its execution in 14K yellow gold. Due to the higher taxation of 18K gold watches entering the United States in the period, the firm responded through the production of lower karat cases for the Daytona. Fewer than 400 examples of the reference 6241 are believed to have been cased in 14K gold, with only a handful of 14K gold John Player Special Daytonas having surfaced in recent years. 

Produced circa 1968, an extremely rare Rolex Reference 6239 ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona retailed by Texas-based retailer Linz Brothers will further highlight the sale (estimate $300/500,000). Only a handful of the watches are known to exist, and rarely appear at auction. The present watch features the retailer’s backwards N Linz logo, elevating the watch from a blue-chip vintage chronograph of already extreme scarcity, to one existing in even fewer numbers, and of particular significance to American collectors and historians of Rolex retailing alike. Recognized as one of North America’s largest Rolex retailers, Linz joined a select group of retailers given the privilege of printing their logo on Rolex dials. While Rolex and Linz Brothers formed a strong and prosperous relationship, Rolex dials were infrequently signed by Linz, making the present Paul Newman Daytona of this configuration and condition extremely rare.

More highlights:

Richard Mille

Reference RM030 'Black Rose' 
A limited edition pink gold skeletonized automatic wristwatch with date and power reserve

circa 2013

Estimate $300/400,000

F.P. Journe

Chronomètre à Résonance

A platinum dual time wristwatch with power reserve indication and brass movement

circa 2002

Estimate $100/200,000

For more information, please visit Sotheby's Important Watches Live Auction: 10 June 2021 • 10:00 EDT New York