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Lot Essay
The present watch can be considered the Paul Newman archetype: in fact, this is among the very first Daytonas to be fitted with a Paul Newman dial. The first appearance of this hallowed dial is indeed around case number 1’6xxx’xxx, in 1967, and this watch was produced just the following year.
Given its exceptional condition, this dial is the ideal textbook on which to study the subtle differences present on these early Paul Newman versions. The most apparent of these is the Swiss designation at 6 o’ clock. It is slanted to the sides, with the center markedly higher than the extremities. This so-called “sing-a-song” style is found only on early Paul Newman versions, and it is later abandoned in favor of linear, more modern graphics. Interestingly, when the outer track is white, the Swiss designation is printed red in one passage. On black outer tracks, such as in the present piece, the process is two-step: first the designation is printed white, and then a red layer is printed on top of the white one. It is thought this process was intended to make the red more bright and contrasting. It appears that three-color white Paul Newman dials – with red divisions on black outer track – later tend to be superseded by examples with white fifth of a second divisions, most probably because of the increased contrast provided by the white on black color scheme.
A final touch of refinement is given to the present watch by its distinguished retailer, as it was originally purchased at the prestigious Bucherer jewelry, considered a landmark of Swiss luxury. Interestingly, the Guarantee paper does not bear the case number of the watch, but the number “161-000-4”, which is beyond any reasonable doubt the internal Bucherer identification number for the item.
Given its exceptional condition, this dial is the ideal textbook on which to study the subtle differences present on these early Paul Newman versions. The most apparent of these is the Swiss designation at 6 o’ clock. It is slanted to the sides, with the center markedly higher than the extremities. This so-called “sing-a-song” style is found only on early Paul Newman versions, and it is later abandoned in favor of linear, more modern graphics. Interestingly, when the outer track is white, the Swiss designation is printed red in one passage. On black outer tracks, such as in the present piece, the process is two-step: first the designation is printed white, and then a red layer is printed on top of the white one. It is thought this process was intended to make the red more bright and contrasting. It appears that three-color white Paul Newman dials – with red divisions on black outer track – later tend to be superseded by examples with white fifth of a second divisions, most probably because of the increased contrast provided by the white on black color scheme.
A final touch of refinement is given to the present watch by its distinguished retailer, as it was originally purchased at the prestigious Bucherer jewelry, considered a landmark of Swiss luxury. Interestingly, the Guarantee paper does not bear the case number of the watch, but the number “161-000-4”, which is beyond any reasonable doubt the internal Bucherer identification number for the item.