DAYTONA MANIA
If you spend any time on Instagram or frequent the watch blogs, you will without doubt have come across the discussion that the Rolex Daytona has become a brand within a brand. There are Rolex collectors, and then there are Daytona collectors. Spearheaded by the Italians, the Daytona has become a power play like no other watch has ever really managed. As an illustration of this, the market is still reeling from the explosive result last October of “Newman’s Newman” becoming the most expensive wristwatch ever sold.
As we go to press, another sale has just closed, again as per the Newman’s Newman, conducted by the magician Aurel Bacs and dedicated entirely to the Rolex Daytona. But there were no illusions, only world-record prices for blue-chip investment watches. Christie’s May sale featured a MK1 Oyster “Paul Newman” Daytona with an estimate of CHF600,000-1,000,000. This is serious. The one-million-plus club has only really been open to the RCO or Oyster Sotto Newman in the past. This could be the first time we see another production Daytona in this club. And then there are the unique pieces that are changing hands in private circles… it’s getting hot in here!
No Daytona. The sequel to Bacs’ last Daytona sale at Christie’s, was a showcase of the finest Daytonas curated by Pucci Papaleo, author of the book and renowned scholar of all things Oyster-cased with three sub-dials. It certainly set the tone for the Daytona into the future, especially the plastic crystal 62xx references with their timeless 36mm cases and slender 19mm lug width. The automatic Daytonas weren't completely ignored and there were four very nice sapphire-glassed chronos in the sale. The gem-set and stone-dialled pieces were noticeably absent, but they are the subject of a new book by Papaleo, which could mean another auction at some point.
