Sotheby’s spring sale of Important Watches in Geneva earlier this week saw an iconic watch perform extremely well: According to a press release, an extraordinarily rare Rolex Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ wristwatch, made in 1969, went for more than its pre-sale estimate of $208,000-$416,000 when it was sold for $947,776.
According to Sotheby’s, “Rolex’s ‘Paul Newman’ Daytonas are widely recognized as the most highly coveted vintage Rolex models on the market”. Two more watches signed by prestigious jewelry houses achieved among the highest prices in the auction: a Superb Diamond-Set Skeletonised Tourbillon Wristwatch by Graff, adorned with 188 diamonds, was sold for $553,119; and a Rare Tourbillon Wristwatch in Rose Gold by Chopard was sold for $159,458.
All in all, the sale totaled $6,566,165 – an increase of over 26% compared with the Important Watches sale in November last year.
