Two highlights of the “Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces” sale come in the form of a topical collector’s dream and a prestigious platinum piece. A Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ in steel and with a fabulously faded tropical dial (estimate 70,000–100,000 US dollars) and a Patek Philippe Minute Repeater with a black dial (est.
Julien Marchenoir has said that it’s “an honour” to take on the responsibility of Vacheron Constantin’s vast heritage, which features “over 450 million metres of archives, over 400 million pages of correspondence, and over 1,000 registers that have been kept and brought in by multiple generations of owners, starting from the 18th century.” This archive is not only used to preserve the 260+ years of Vacheron Constantin’s history, but it's also used as a source of reference and inspiration for future designs.
Of the five Rolex Daytonas owned by Paul Newman, it was reference 6239, with its exotic dial, that cemented the watch into horological folklore and, arguably, kick-started the vintage watch market as we know it. It’s this very piece, which was engraved with the message ‘Drive Carefully, Me’ by his wife Joanne Woodward, that Phillips has consigned, and which will no doubt become one of the most expensive pieces ever sold when it goes under the hammer in October.
