Rolex Daytona 116528: A Modern Paul Newman (VIDEO BLOG)

The Rolex Daytona has been around long enough to look back on a glorious history of iconic models, moments, and men who have written its story. Among the men, Paul Newman is a standout, and among the models, his famed “Paul Newman” dial Rolex Daytona is a legend.

The modern Rolex Daytona 116528 “Paul Newman” recalls the signature style of Newman’s personal Rolex Daytona 6239 but adds the size, substance, and style of the modern Cosmograph to the equation.

When the modern Rolex Daytona 116528 debuted with this tri-tone dial in the early 2000s, the Paul Newman references flew fast and furious on the internet fora. Key to the link is the combination of three colors on a single Rolex Daytona dial in a fashion that many associated with the original 6239 worn by Newman himself.

Naturally, Rolex was tight-lipped about its own intentions regarding the resemblance, but the extended alpha-numeric factory reference number 116528PNBK can be considered a colossal nod and wink to the cognoscenti. This may be the closest Rolex ever comes to issuing a factory-backed tribute watch.

Inside the 18-karat yellow gold case, a Rolex in-house caliber 4130 automatic movement keeps the time in COSC-chronometer fashion. Since its model year Y2K introduction on the 1165XX generation of Rolex Daytonas, the cal. 4130 has become the benchmark among luxury chronograph movements. With a 72-hour power reserve, a crisp column wheel to actuate the chronograph functions, a vertical clutch to ensure smooth chronograph engagement, and robust construction, this is a serious motor befitting a model given as the official winner’s gift at the racing epic known since 1963 as the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

Any Rolex is a special timepiece, and that goes double for a Rolex Daytona. However, solid 18-karat gold models from the “crown” jewel of Geneva hold a special distinction, because they are constructed of alloy that is researched, blended, poured, and finished by Rolex itself. Only a bare handful of watchmakers possess the in-hour expertise in metallurgy or the investment in infrastructure to create their own cases and bracelets; at Rolex, the entire production process has been brought in-house to ensure peerless quality.

The Rolex Daytona 116528 is the latest model in a line that dates back to the days when Paul Newman himself was a championship caliber racing driver and Enzo Ferrari himself walked the pits at Daytona International Speedway.