How 7 Rolex models got their unique nicknames

Paul Newman

Christie’s

The Rolex Daytona, for obvious reasons, has a strong racing heritage. The Rolex Paul Newman, specifically the Ref. 6239, even more so.

Paul Newman’s wife gave this watch to him when he decided to take up racing and it was explicitly linked to the man after he was photographed wearing it on the cover of an Italian fashion magazine, according to Christie’s. He also wore it in the 1969 racing movie “Winning,” which he starred in with his wife.

One of the most sought after vintage Rolex watches, the pictured example was auctioned at Christie’s in March with the final hammer at $118,750 — much higher than the $40,000-$60,000 estimate.