Paul Newman 1925-2008

by Dino Standjofski on October 1, 2008
tagged as: sports pre-owned rolex watches cars celebrities

Paul Newman, known for his piercing blue eyes, boyish good looks and stellar performances in scores of hit Hollywood movies, has died. He was 83.

Newman, who had been battling cancer, passed away on Friday, Newman's Own Foundation said in a statement from Westport, Connecticut.

'Paul Newman's craft was acting. His passion was racing. His love was his family and friends. And his heart and soul were dedicated to helping make the world a better place for all,' Foundation Vice-Chairman Robert Forrester said.

Newman played youthful rebels, charming rogues, golden-hearted drunks and amoral opportunists in a career that encompassed more than 50 movies. He was one of the most popular and consistently bankable Hollywood stars in the second half of the 20th century.

The link between Paul Newman and the watch world is through Rolex. His huge enthusiasm for car racing is the probable cause for connection between the Rolex Daytona and his name.

The Rolex Cosmograph was so useful in calculating the average lap speed, that Rolex nicknamed it 'Daytona' after the infamous motor sport capital Daytona Beach in Florida. A few models of the Daytona were available with 'exotic' dials. One of these exotic dials, is believed to be worn by Paul Newman in the movie 'Winning.' Although Mr. Newman claimed that his first Daytona was given to him by his wife in 1972 and did not have an 'exotic' dial, the most coveted and collectible Rolex watch in history still carries his name.

But Paul Newman was a great ambassador for Rolex even if one disregards that particular model. He is often pictured wearing a Daytona and will always be remembered by race fans for his feats in the motoring world including being the oldest driver ever to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The F1 Grand Prix Gets the Festivities Started

by Marco Gagliano on June 5, 2008
tagged as: sports watches cars

Montreal is a well known summer destination for travelers from around the world. It is because the city offers a fantastic array of festivals and activities for visitors to enjoy. This weekend the parties kicked off with the advent of the F1 Montreal Grand Prix. Starting on Thursday, at least four principal Downtown streets have been closed to traffic to allow pedestrians to enjoy a plethora of activities.

Car enthusiasts are often also lovers of mechanical watches. Both of these items are incredibly complex and functional art. For this reason, the Grand Prix weekend is a great chance for us to meet collectors and to educate curious passers-by. Often we will get glimpses at some extraordinary watches on the wrists of visitors. The Azimuth Gauge Chrono or the Ferrari Fer0001 are perfect examples of how motor-sports and luxury watch-making go hand-in-hand.

As the summer progresses, the world renowned 'Festival International de Jazz de Montreal,' the biggest of its kind, will bring hundreds of world-class musicians to the city. Other happenings include the Just-For-Laughs comedy Festival, several international film festivals, and NASCAR.

There is a reason for anyone to come to Montreal during the summer. For information on events contact us via phone or email.

Bell and Ross Creates a Dashboard Clock for Peugeot

by Marco Gagliano on January 31, 2008
tagged as: cars watches bell & ross

In 2006, Bell and Ross teamed up with Peugeot to create a stylish, aerodynamic dashboard clock. Since then, the timepiece has remained a constant fixture in their concept cars. The 2008 release continues in this tradition, featuring the B&R clock prominently mounted to the dash. The following photos are from their original collaboration. Noteworthy, and still to our liking here at Matt Baily.