A legend passes on...

Paul Newman and his wife of fifty years, Joanne Woodward

Paul Newman passed away on September 26, 2008, at the age of 83. Paul Newman is a Hollywood Legend having had 79 movie and television appearances, his last cinematic appearance as the voice of "Doc Hudson" in the Pixar blockbuster "Cars". Paul Newman's career as an actor began in 1952 playing Seargent Wilson in one episode of the television series "Tales of Tomorrow". His debut in the big screen was in the 1954 movie "The Silver Chalice" opposite Virginia Mayo, Pier Angeli and Jack Palance. Paul Newman won an Oscar Award for his role as Fast Eddie Felson in the 1984 film "The Color of Money". His role as Fest Eddie Felson was a reprisal of the same role he played in the 1961 film "The Hustler".

In 1982, Paul Newman founded Newman's Own, a line of food products which includes salad dressing, pasta sauce, lemonade, popcorn, salsa and wine. All proceeds from the sale of Newman's Own products are donated to charity. The Newman's Own franchise has resulted in excess of $200 million in donations

Paul Newman was not only an accomplished actor and philanthropist, but an accomplished race car driver and race team owner. In 1995, at the age of 70, Paul Newman was one of the drivers of the team that won the GT1 Class in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. For his win Rolex presented him with a brand new Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Model 16520 featuring the inscription: "Rolex 24H. at Daytona, Paul Newman, Rolex Motorsports Man of the Year, 1995".

The presentation of this watch to Paul Newman was so appropriate because, while Paul Newman was never officially a Rolex ambassador nor ever officially endorsed its watches, the name of Paul Newman has been linked to the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona for a period of 30 years, and has been a big factor in the success of this watch.

In 1972, Paul Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward, gave him a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Model 6263 when he started his racing career. The watch is engraved in the back with the words "Drive Slowly, Joanne". Paul Newman continued to wear this watch till the end of his life.

The Paul Newman's Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Model 6263, has a black dial and white sub-dials. Today, Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with sub-dials that contrast with the color of the dial are known as Paul Newman's.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona model 116528 ("Paul Newman" Edition)

As we offer our condolences to his wife and children, we must also add our most sincere thanks. Paul Newman, in his chosen profession, in his acts of charity and mostly by his example in how he carried out his personal life has enriched our lives and gave us a true beacon of what success in life really means.