Actor Paul Newman's Watch Sold for a record $17 million

On October 26, at the auction "Legendary Watches of the 20th Century" in New York, the most expensive watches in the history of the auction were sold - their price was $ 17.7 million. This is a 1968 Rolex Cosmograph Paul Newman Daytona steel chronograph, owned by Hollywood star and racing driver Paul Newman.

Source: Daily Mail

The estimate was about $ 1 million, that is, by the end of the auction, the price had risen almost 18 times. The battle for the lot lasted 12 minutes, the new owner of the watch is unknown.

Chronograph engraved Drive carefully ("Drive carefully") Newman was given by his second wife, actress Joan Woodward. She bought it at Tiffany's & Co in New York. The actor wore the watch for more than 15 years, and then gave it to James Cox, a young man of his daughter Nell. He never wore a watch and, when asked the time, answered with the same joke. When Newman heard this answer, he took the Rolex off his hand and handed it to the young man.

Paul Newman is one of the most important Hollywood actors of the XX century, the winner of the Oscar, nominated for the award 10 times.

In the 1970s, Newman won many auto races: he won four national championships and second place in the 24-hour race at Le Mans (and in 1995, at 70, he became the oldest driver whose team won the Daytona competition). One day, the actor got into a serious motorcycle accident, which explains the engraving on the back of the watch.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona chronograph in yellow gold and a rare Rolex Big Crown wristwatch with a glossy black dial, released in the 1950s, were also put up for auction.