Yahoo Lifestyle Tom Brady’s Rare Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona Raked in Over $1 Million at Auction
The Crown will always be king. Rolex proved, once again, that it lords over the auction block. At yesterday’s Sotheby’s sale “The GOAT Collection: Watches & Treasures from Tom Brady,” it was not the iconic footballer’s sports memorabilia that took home the highest bid, but rather an 18-karat yellow gold Rolex “Paul Newman John Player Special” Ref. 6241 that was MVP.
A longtime watch collector, Brady had special pieces from IWC (where he served as a brand ambassador) and Patek Philippe, but his Ref. 6241 hammered in for well above those pieces for $1,140,000, which had a top estimate of $900,000. Funnily enough, the model is known for its ties to car racing—nicknamed the “John Player Special” for its gold and black hues that mimic the Lotus Formula One team’s race cars once sponsored by the ’70s-era cigarette brand. Despite its apparent conflicts with Brady’s persona, the watch is known as an ultimate collector’s item in the Rolex sphere and often commands top dollar at auctions. So, in some ways, it’s no surprise that this piece dominated the former NFL star’s collection.
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Before the auction, much ado was made over Brady’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The unique 28-karat white gold piece features a salmon dial, a flying tourbillon, and, rather amusingly, his name spelled out along the edge of the dial in diamond letters and a sapphire “VII” in place of hour markers. Some thought the watch, dubbed appropriately “The Roast,” might be the star of the show given its provenance is so clearly memorialized—despite its gaudy vibes. Instead, it hammered down for $720,000, and while that’s still a rather hefty price tag, it was under its top estimate of $800,000. If one is buying to wear, then this one is undoubtedly the less appealing of the two, but Brady, no doubt, still made a mint.
Brady’s timepieces earned a whopping $4,622,400 in total. That’s just a drop in the bucket for the sports star who reportedly raked in $530 million over the course of his 23-year NFL career. From what we’ve heard of his collection, the GOAT still has plenty of precious timekeepers in his vault.
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