The most expensive Rolex watches ever sold
The most expensive Rolex ever sold is Paul Newman's own Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 6239, which sold for $17,752,500 at Phillips in New York on October 26, 2017. The most expensive Rolex you can buy new are the gem-set Daytona and Day-Date models (price on request); the priciest with a published US price is the platinum Daytona, from about $84,600.
Key facts
| Record Rolex | Paul Newman's Daytona 6239, $17.75M |
|---|---|
| Sold | Phillips New York, Oct 26, 2017 |
| Second highest | Daytona 6265 "Unicorn", CHF 5.94M |
| Newest top-5 record | Daytona 6270 "The King", about $5.2M, 2025 |
| Priciest listed new Rolex (US) | Platinum Daytona, from $84,600 |
| Rolex founded | 1905, London; Geneva since 1919 |
The most expensive Rolex watches ever sold
Prices include the buyer's premium; Swiss franc and Hong Kong dollar results are shown with an approximate dollar value.
| # | Rolex | Price | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daytona 6239, Paul Newman's own The actor and racing driver wore it for years; it gave the "Paul Newman" dial its name. | $17,752,500 | Phillips, New York, Oct 2017 |
| 2 | Daytona 6265 "Unicorn" The only white gold 6265 ever made; sold for charity. | CHF 5.94 million (about $5.9M) | Phillips, Geneva, May 2018 |
| 3 | Daytona 6263 "Big Red", Paul Newman's own A second Newman Daytona, worn on set and at the track. | $5,475,000 | Phillips, New York, Dec 2020 |
| 4 | Daytona 6270 "The King" A gem-set Daytona made for Sultan Qaboos of Oman. | about $5.2 million | Sotheby's, Hong Kong, Oct 2025 |
| 5 | 6062 "Bao Dai" A gold triple-calendar moonphase with a black diamond-set dial, owned by Vietnam's last emperor. | CHF 5.07 million (about $5.1M) | Phillips, Geneva, May 2017 |
| 6 | Daytona 16516 "Zenith" platinum with lapis dial The record for a modern Daytona. | HK$25.4 million (about $3.3M) | Sotheby's, Hong Kong, Jul 2020 |
| 7 | Daytona 16516 platinum, turquoise stone dial A platinum "Zenith" Daytona with a rare turquoise stone dial. | HK$24 million (about $3.1M) | Sotheby's, Hong Kong, Apr 2021 |
| 8 | 4113 split-seconds chronograph (1942) One of about a dozen made, for racing teams; the Rolex auction record until the Bao Dai sold in 2017. | CHF 2.41 million (about $2.5M) | Phillips, Geneva, May 2016 |
| 9 | Daytona 6241 "John Player Special" Yellow gold with a black and gold dial that matched the Lotus F1 car's sponsor colors. | CHF 2.24 million (about $2.5M) | Sotheby's, Geneva, May 2023 |
| 10 | GMT-Master 1675, Marlon Brando's Worn in Apocalypse Now; Brando scratched his name on the caseback. | $1,952,000 | Phillips, New York, Dec 2019 |
The Paul Newman Daytona story
Rolex launched the Cosmograph Daytona in 1963 as a racing chronograph. Some early ones had an "exotic" dial with Art Deco numerals and contrasting square markers in the subdials. They sold poorly and many sat in shop windows. Then Paul Newman, actor and serious racing driver, was photographed wearing one, and collectors began calling that dial the "Paul Newman".
Newman's own watch, a reference 6239 given to him by his wife Joanne Woodward and engraved "Drive Carefully Me", was sold by Phillips in New York in October 2017 for $17,752,500. It is still the most expensive Rolex ever sold, and it turned vintage Daytonas into one of the hottest collectibles in the world. A second Newman Daytona, his 6263 "Big Red", sold for $5.475 million in 2020.
The most expensive Rolex you can buy new
Rolex does not publish prices for its diamond- and gem-set watches ("price on request"), but these are the highest US list prices published for its precious-metal models in 2026:
| Model | US list price, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Daytona in platinum (ice-blue dial) | from $84,600 |
| Day-Date 40 in platinum | from $68,800 |
| Day-Date 36 in platinum | from $64,100 |
| GMT-Master II in white gold | from $54,700 |
| Gem-set Daytona and Day-Date models (e.g. "Rainbow" Daytona) | price on request; well over $100,000 |
The most expensive Rolex ever listed in its catalog was the GMT-Master II "Ice" (116769TBR), fully paved with about 30 carats of diamonds, at around $485,000. Popular steel models such as the Daytona, GMT-Master II and Submariner often sell above list price on the secondary market because authorized dealers have waiting lists.
What the Rolex crown means
The five-pointed crown has been Rolex's emblem since the 1920s or early 1930s (sources disagree on the exact year it was registered). Rolex has never officially explained what it stands for; the usual reading is a crown of achievement. The name is just as mysterious. Founder Hans Wilsdorf registered "Rolex" in 1908 because it was short, easy to say in any language and fit neatly on a dial. Late in life he joked that "a genie whispered" it in his ear. Read the full history of Rolex.
See also: why Rolex watches are so expensive · Jubilee vs Oyster bracelet · the most expensive watches of all brands
Questions people ask
What is the most expensive Rolex ever sold?
Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona 6239, sold for $17,752,500 at Phillips New York in October 2017.
What is the costliest Rolex you can buy new?
Gem-set models such as the "Rainbow" Daytona are price on request. Among models with published US prices, the platinum Daytona (from about $84,600) and platinum Day-Date 40 (from about $68,800) are the most expensive in 2026.
Why are Paul Newman Daytonas so valuable?
The "Paul Newman" exotic dial was unpopular when new, so few were made. After Newman was photographed wearing one, collectors made it the most sought-after vintage Rolex, and his own watch is the most famous of all.
Why do some Rolex watches cost more than list price?
Demand for steel sports models such as the Daytona, GMT-Master II and Submariner is higher than supply at authorized dealers, so they often sell above list on the pre-owned market.
What does the Rolex crown logo mean?
Rolex has never given an official explanation. It has been the brand's emblem since the 1920s or early 1930s and is usually read as a symbol of excellence.
Sources
- Phillips: Paul Newman's Daytona
- Monochrome: Newman's Big Red Daytona
- Sotheby's: the most expensive Rolex watches
- Phillips: Bao Dai result
- SJX: Daytona 16516 Zenith record
- Phillips: Marlon Brando GMT-Master
- Luxury Bazaar: Rolex 2026 price increases
- Bob's Watches: GMT-Master II Ice
- Wikipedia: Rolex
Last updated October 18, 2026. Prices are auction hammer-plus-premium results or published list prices as reported by the sources below; retail prices change, so check an authorized dealer before buying. Brand and model names belong to their owners and are used here only to identify the watches; onlineclock.app is not affiliated with any watch brand. Found an error? Tell us.
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