Category: Replica Watches

In the second installment of our Reference Points series we will tackle perhaps the most discussed family of watches in modern timepiece collecting. This watch is as infamous as it is famous, it’s as dangerous as it is beautiful, and valuable as it is rare. I’m talking about nothing short of the Cheap Rolex Replica “Paul Newman” Daytona, and here we will explore the six references of this absolutely legendary timepiece, as well as go into its history, ups, downs, ins and outs. But first, if you haven’t read our first “Reference Points” feature on Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronographs, we encourage you to do so here.First things first, this report will not be an exposé on the life of Paul Newman, nor the several watches that he wore. For that, I encourage you to read this story over at Jake’s Rolex World.

Both of the watches you see above are Cheap Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas Reference 6239 in stainless steel with black dials. Both were made in 1967.To be specific, the watch on the left sold for $28,750 in December of 2013, while the one on the right sold for $93,750 in the very same auction. These two watches are all but identical mechanically, and in fact the case of the 6239 on the left appears to be even stronger than the case of the 6239 on the right – so why was there a price difference of $65,000 between the two? Because the watch on the right is a Paul Newman Daytona, and the one on the left is not. The only difference, really? The dial, and that’s it. The only thing that makes a vintage Daytona a “Paul Newman” Rolex Replica Watches Daytona is the dial. And that is why the Paul Newman is one of the most dangerous vintage watches to buy. More on that shortly.In the two photos above, you can see the differences quite clearly. The Paul Newman features an art deco style font for the numerals, and the hash marks have a small square at the end. Additionally, there is a small “step” in the dial between the outer minute track and the center of the dial. In this particular example of the 6241 PN, the dial features a third color (red) which adds a bit of character. But, are a few little design traits worth paying that much more for a Cheap Rolex Replica Daytona? When the exotic dials were first shown by Rolex, not many believed so.

In fact, these dials sat on shelves for years and years. The traditional Cheap Rolex Daytona dials were much preferred by Rolex clients to the funky multi-colored dials that now fetch so much money to collectors. As such, it is not uncommon to see Paul Newmans with original sales receipts in some cases several years, if not decades, later than the production date. This is just one reason why the world of Paul Newmans is so murky.And, because these exotic dials didn’t sell well, Rolex simply didn’t make that many of them. Andrew Shear of ShearTime estimates that for every 20 normal Rolex Replica Watches Daytona dials, there would be one exotic dial made. And we mustn’t forget that Rolex was not the vertically integrated manufacturer that it is today – it was another company, Singer, who was making the dials for them. And Singer was making “Paul Newman” style dials for not just Rolex, either. For example, here is a two register Vulcain with exotic style dial that we sold in our Chicago Pop-Up last year for practically nothing.
It is Singer’s involvement with the production of these massively valuable dials that makes the whole situation even murkier still. In the period of the 1980s through the early 2000s, when exotic dial Cheap Rolex Replica Daytonas gained in popularity and Italian collectors soon proclaimed them The “Paul Newman” Daytonas, we began to see an enormous up-tick in the numbers of these dials. And this is when the slow-seller of the 1960s and 70s became the hottest vintage watch in the world.

The Cosmograph Daytona is a dynamic series of watches steeped equally in historical legend and modern fame. From the 1955 release of the first Oyster Chronograph, a precursor to the Cosmograph line; to the “pre-Daytona” Ref. 6238, a watch more aesthetically characteristic to the modern lineage; to the 1963 debut of the first official “Cosmograph” watch; to two years later in 1965 where the word “Daytona” began to be printed over the bottom subdial, the watch’s lineage is one full of changes, variations, and improvements that has only continued during the past 60-plus years.During that time, the series has worked to balance the demands of those in need of a tool and sports watch with those strictly searching for an expensive timepiece. From its early days on the racetracks at Daytona Beach, Florida, with manual Valjoux 72 movements, to more recent versions in gold cases on the wrists of boardroom executives with modified Zenith El Primero movements, it is a collection that has proven to be quite dynamic. Today, the Rolex Daytona holds a rare place in horology — cherished both by vintage enthusiasts, with their expensive love of exotic “Paul Newman” styled dials as well as other early Cosmographs and pre-Daytonas, and by a more modern crowd searching for their “pinnacle” watch from this renowned brand.

This year was especially big for the Daytona, as Cheap Rolex Replica issued a new release for the series at BaselWorld 2016. We found the design of this new model taking a slightly different direction than those of Cosmographs in years past. The watch, available in several metal and dial variations, is now characterized by an engraved, distinct bezel made of Cerachrom, a Rolex-specific material similar to ceramic meant to replace the previous engraved metal bezels.Specifically focusing on the all-steel variants, the watch is 40 mm in diameter without the crown, powered from within by Cheap Rolex modern, in-house chronograph movement, Caliber 4130. On the black or white dial that resides within the now-black bezel are three outlined black or white chronograph subdials measuring 12 hours, 30 minutes, and 60 seconds. Also on the dial is the Daytona’s characteristic four descriptive lines of writing beneath the corporate logo, the applied hour markers, the baton hands, and, of course, the iconic red “Daytona” print above the bottom subdial. Other key features to notice are the screw-down crown and chronograph pushers, and the famed Rolex Replica Watches bracelet.

While the Cheap Rolex Daytona Replica has certainly changed quite a bit since its official launch in 1963, it is not without historically influenced design elements. The screw-down crown and pushers, along with the bracelet and oyster case, are all almost directly descended from the designs of the early models in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Meanwhile, the more contemporary characteristics — such as the 40-mm size, applied hour markers, crown guards, and in-house automatic movement — are all elements more associated with the Daytonas produced after 1988.The models released this year are particularly interesting as they pay a subtle homage to some of the most famous modern variations in the series’ lineage, the exotic dialed “Paul Newman” references. These watches were made distinctive by their Spartan black or white dials with black or white (sometimes referred to as “panda”, or “reverse panda”) subdials, and often by their use of a plastic or plexiglas black bezel. The 2016 Cheap Rolex, as you have probably noticed, use a black ceramic meant to honor the previous black plexiglas bezels, and use either black or white subdial outlines alluding to previous “panda” models.

The Rolex Replica Watches has proven itself as both an iconic and timeless watch, as well as a timepiece that has achieved extreme notoriety from relative rarity and high prices through the years. The 2016 BaselWorld release will most likely be no different in finding fame and appreciation through the next few decades, and has the added benefit of using some of the most cherished design elements (black bezel, black and white dials) to give it an extra boost of fascination. Maybe one day Rolex will release a true and complete homage to past Daytonas, but for now the watch collector community will have to satisfied with this still-solid piece.