Reference:big-red-daytona - Revision history

Admin: site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

2026-09-05T00:38:41Z

site-wide: domain move BezelBase → Rolexopedia (rolexopedia.net)

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:38, 5 September 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Big Red Daytona}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Big Red Daytona}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 'Big Red' Daytona — 6263 & 6265 Guide \| ~~BezelBase~~		\|title=Rolex 'Big Red' Daytona — 6263 & 6265 Guide \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=The Big Red Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 — the standard 6263 dial with DAYTONA printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced around 1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 — caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" by Joanne Woodward, who bought it in 1983 — sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium. Third-most-expensive Rolex at auction on that date.		\|description=The Big Red Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 — the standard 6263 dial with DAYTONA printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced around 1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 — caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" by Joanne Woodward, who bought it in 1983 — sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium. Third-most-expensive Rolex at auction on that date.
	\|keywords=Big Red Daytona, Big Red 6263, Newman Big Red, Rolex Big Red, Paul Newman Drive Slowly Joanne, Phillips 2020, Floating Big Red, Small Red		\|keywords=Big Red Daytona, Big Red 6263, Newman Big Red, Rolex Big Red, Paul Newman Drive Slowly Joanne, Phillips 2020, Floating Big Red, Small Red

Admin: Fix hard-rule-10: drop prices from intro paragraph and hero caption, already covered in Auction record

2026-08-11T18:31:04Z

Fix hard-rule-10: drop prices from intro paragraph and hero caption, already covered in Auction record

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:31, 11 August 2026
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	The Big Red is the standard [[Reference:6263\|6263]] dial with "DAYTONA" in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. It appears around 1976 and becomes the default late 6263 dial. Most surviving 6263s carry one of three closely related forms: standard Big Red, Floating Big Red, or Small Red.		The Big Red is the standard [[Reference:6263\|6263]] dial with "DAYTONA" in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. It appears around 1976 and becomes the default late 6263 dial. Most surviving 6263s carry one of three closely related forms: standard Big Red, Floating Big Red, or Small Red.

	Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 anchors the category. Joanne Woodward bought the watch in 1983 and had the caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" for her husband. Newman wore it longer than any of his other Daytonas and gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund in 2008. It sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 ~~for USD 5,475,000 including premium~~, third on the all-time Rolex auction list as of that date, behind Newman's own ~~6239 (~~[[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|~~USD 17,752,500 at Phillips Winning Icons, 2017~~]]) and the Bao Dai 6062 ~~(USD 5.06M)~~.		Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 anchors the category. Joanne Woodward bought the watch in 1983 and had the caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" for her husband. Newman wore it longer than any of his other Daytonas and gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund in 2008. It sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020, third on the all-time Rolex auction list as of that date, behind Newman's own [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|6239]] and the Bao Dai 6062.

	[[File:Ref 6263 big-red-hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE' example, ~~hammered USD 5.48M~~ Phillips NY 2020\|Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE' example, ~~hammered USD 5.48M~~ Phillips NY 2020]]		[[File:Ref 6263 big-red-hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE' example, Phillips New York 2020\|Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE' example, Phillips New York 2020]]

	== The three Red variants ==		== The three Red variants ==

Admin: Fact: the Bao Dai is a Rolex ref. 6062, not a Patek — per SJX (Richard Lee, 2020), already cited in Sources; page intro states it correctly

2026-08-09T21:17:18Z

Fact: the Bao Dai is a Rolex ref. 6062, not a Patek — per SJX (Richard Lee, 2020), already cited in Sources; page intro states it correctly

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:17, 9 August 2026
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	\| Provenance \|\| Bought by Joanne Woodward in 1983 and given to Newman, who wore it until 2008 and then gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund; consigned by the family		\| Provenance \|\| Bought by Joanne Woodward in 1983 and given to Newman, who wore it until 2008 and then gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund; consigned by the family
	\|-		\|-
	\| Position on Rolex auction list (at sale date) \|\| 3rd all-time, behind Newman's 6239 and the Bao Dai ~~Patek/~~Rolex 6062		\| Position on Rolex auction list (at sale date) \|\| 3rd all-time, behind Newman's 6239 and the Bao Dai Rolex 6062
	\|}		\|}

Admin: Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

2026-08-09T21:17:17Z

Text audit: voice, clarity, source links

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:17, 9 August 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex ~~big-red-daytona~~}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Big Red Daytona}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 'Big Red' Daytona — 6263 & 6265 Guide \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 'Big Red' Daytona — 6263 & 6265 Guide \| BezelBase
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	\|}		\|}

	Floating Big Red examples sit well above standard Big Red on the rarity ladder, and the Floating Big Red Sigma sits higher again. The Sigma variant pairs the Floating text placement with gold hour markers carrying the discreet sigma symbols at the foot of the dial, the convention ~~used by certain Swiss case-makers to denote~~ solid-gold appliques. Sigma examples appear at the major auction houses intermittently rather than annually, and a clean one commands multiples of a standard Big Red result.		Floating Big Red examples sit well above standard Big Red on the rarity ladder, and the Floating Big Red Sigma sits higher again. The Sigma variant pairs the Floating text placement with gold hour markers carrying the discreet sigma symbols at the foot of the dial, the Swiss industry convention marking solid-gold appliques. Sigma examples appear at the major auction houses intermittently rather than annually, and a clean one commands multiples of a standard Big Red result.

	== Newman's Big Red (Phillips New York, December 2020) ==		== Newman's Big Red (Phillips New York, December 2020) ==

	Two of Newman's personal Daytonas have come to auction. His 6239 ~~MK1~~, the watch that gave the Paul Newman dial its name, sold at Phillips Winning Icons on 26 October 2017 for USD 17,752,500 and still holds the Rolex auction record. His 6263 Big Red followed three years later.		Two of Newman's personal Daytonas have come to auction. His 6239 Mk1, the watch that gave the Paul Newman dial its name, sold at Phillips Winning Icons on 26 October 2017 for USD 17,752,500 and still holds the Rolex auction record. His 6263 Big Red followed three years later.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
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	\|}		\|}

	The "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" engraving is what separates this 6263 from any other standard Big Red. It echoes the "Drive carefully me" engraving Joanne Woodward had put on Newman's 6239 ~~decades~~ earlier, and Phillips's lot essay drew the parallel directly.		The "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" engraving is what separates this 6263 from any other standard Big Red. It echoes the "Drive carefully me" engraving Joanne Woodward had put on Newman's 6239 years earlier, and Phillips's lot essay drew the parallel directly.

	As of December 2020, two watches from Newman's personal collection ~~occupied~~ first and third place on the all-time Rolex auction list. Both were gifts~~. Both carried~~ family engravings~~. Neither was sold by Newman~~ in his lifetime.		As of December 2020, two watches from Newman's personal collection held first and third place on the all-time Rolex auction list. Both were gifts carrying family engravings, and neither left his hands in his lifetime.

	== The market for standard Big Red ==		== The market for standard Big Red ==

	Setting the Newman example aside, standard Big Red 6263s have appreciated steadily through the 2010s and into the 2020s. The top of the market wants original dials, unpolished or lightly polished cases, period-correct bracelets with matching clasp date codes, and full-set boxes and papers. Refinished cases, service-replacement dials, and mismatched components ~~hammer prices down noticeably~~.		Setting the Newman example aside, standard Big Red 6263s have appreciated steadily through the 2010s and into the 2020s. The top of the market wants original dials, unpolished or lightly polished cases, period-correct bracelets with matching clasp date codes, and full-set boxes and papers. Refinished cases, service-replacement dials, and mismatched components cut hard into results.

	The Big Red market moves with the broader 6263 market, and the Phillips Daytona Ultimatum sale in May 2018 was the most consequential single reset. Headline lots from that auction (the Unicorn 6265 at CHF 5.9M, the Neanderthal 6240 at CHF 3.0M, the Oyster Sotto 6263 at CHF 1.66M) lifted the auction ceiling for generic clean Big Reds along with everything else 6263-shaped. Before 2018 a clean Big Red traded in the upper five figures into the low six figures. After 2018 the clean end of the market clustered firmly in the six figures.		The Big Red market moves with the broader 6263 market, and the Phillips Daytona Ultimatum sale in May 2018 was the most consequential single reset. Headline lots from that auction (the Unicorn 6265 at CHF 5.9M, the Neanderthal 6240 at CHF 3.0M, the Oyster Sotto 6263 at CHF 1.66M) lifted the auction ceiling for generic clean Big Reds along with everything else 6263-shaped. Before 2018 a clean Big Red traded in the upper five figures into the low six figures. After 2018 the clean end of the market clustered firmly in the six figures.
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	The Big Red dial is documented only on the [[Reference:6263\|6263]] case. The metal-bezel [[Reference:6265\|6265]] did not receive Big Red dials in standard production. A handful of 6265s with red DAYTONA text have appeared at auction, but they are categorised separately and generally read as later service-replacement dials rather than period Big Red variants.		The Big Red dial is documented only on the [[Reference:6263\|6263]] case. The metal-bezel [[Reference:6265\|6265]] did not receive Big Red dials in standard production. A handful of 6265s with red DAYTONA text have appeared at auction, but they are categorised separately and generally read as later service-replacement dials rather than period Big Red variants.

	== ~~Where to go next~~ ==		== Related references ==

	* [[Reference:6263\|~~Reference~~ 6263]] — ~~full treatment of~~ the host reference ~~including~~ the [[Reference:albino-daytona\|Albino ~~6263~~]] and [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman ~~6263 variants~~]]		* [[Reference:6263\|Daytona 6263]] — the host reference, covering the [[Reference:albino-daytona\|Albino]] and [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman]] variants alongside Big Red
	* [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman Daytona]] — the other Newman-owned dial category, hosted on the 6239		* [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman Daytona]] — the other Newman-owned dial category, hosted on the 6239
			* [[Reference:6265\|Daytona 6265]] — the metal-bezel sibling
			* [[Reference:6264\|Daytona 6264]] — the pump-pusher predecessor
			* [[Reference:daytona\|Daytona family index]]
	* [[Reference:daytona-glossary\|Daytona glossary]] — definitions for Floating Big Red, Small Red, Sigma dial, and every other named variant		* [[Reference:daytona-glossary\|Daytona glossary]] — definitions for Floating Big Red, Small Red, Sigma dial, and every other named variant

	~~== Related references ==~~

	* [[Reference:daytona\|Daytona family index]]
	* [[Reference:6263\|Daytona 6263]] — the Big Red name comes from its red COSMOGRAPH text
	* [[Reference:6265\|Daytona 6265]] — the steel-bezel sibling
	* [[Reference:6264\|Daytona 6264]] — the pump-pusher predecessor

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

Admin: Fact fix: SJX Watches cal 4130 LIGA article is bylined Richard Lee, not JX Su (watchesbysjx.com, 2020-11-17)

2026-08-08T22:29:36Z

Fact fix: SJX Watches cal 4130 LIGA article is bylined Richard Lee, not JX Su (watchesbysjx.com, 2020-11-17)

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:29, 8 August 2026
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	* [https://www.phillips.com/article/42015509/made-for-racing-rolex-and-the-daytona Made for Racing: Rolex and the Daytona] — Phillips, 2018		* [https://www.phillips.com/article/42015509/made-for-racing-rolex-and-the-daytona Made for Racing: Rolex and the Daytona] — Phillips, 2018
	* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/NY080120/38 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Big Red", Ref. 6263, case 6'392'137 — Lot 38] — Phillips, New York, 12 December 2020		* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/NY080120/38 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Big Red", Ref. 6263, case 6'392'137 — Lot 38] — Phillips, New York, 12 December 2020
	* [https://watchesbysjx.com/2020/12/paul-newman-rolex-daytona-6263-big-red-auction.html Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona 6263 "Big Red" Sells for US$5.48m] — ~~JX Su~~, SJX, 2020		* [https://watchesbysjx.com/2020/12/paul-newman-rolex-daytona-6263-big-red-auction.html Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona 6263 "Big Red" Sells for US$5.48m] — Richard Lee, SJX, 2020
	* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-daytona-chronograph-1963-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Daytona] — Erik Slaven, Monochrome, 2024		* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-daytona-chronograph-1963-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Daytona] — Erik Slaven, Monochrome, 2024
	* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-first-rolex-daytona-by-benjamin-clymer Historical Perspectives: The Very First Rolex Daytona] — Benjamin Clymer, Hodinkee, 2013		* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-first-rolex-daytona-by-benjamin-clymer Historical Perspectives: The Very First Rolex Daytona] — Benjamin Clymer, Hodinkee, 2013

Admin: Fix markdown residue: 3 '-' bullets never converted to wikitext '*' (rendered as run-on paragraph, not a list)

2026-08-08T21:47:27Z

Fix markdown residue: 3 '-' bullets never converted to wikitext '*' (rendered as run-on paragraph, not a list)

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:47, 8 August 2026
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	== Where to go next ==		== Where to go next ==

	- [[Reference:6263\|Reference 6263]] — full treatment of the host reference including the [[Reference:albino-daytona\|Albino 6263]] and [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman 6263 variants]]		* [[Reference:6263\|Reference 6263]] — full treatment of the host reference including the [[Reference:albino-daytona\|Albino 6263]] and [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman 6263 variants]]
	- [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman Daytona]] — the other Newman-owned dial category, hosted on the 6239		* [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman Daytona]] — the other Newman-owned dial category, hosted on the 6239
	- [[Reference:daytona-glossary\|Daytona glossary]] — definitions for Floating Big Red, Small Red, Sigma dial, and every other named variant		* [[Reference:daytona-glossary\|Daytona glossary]] — definitions for Floating Big Red, Small Red, Sigma dial, and every other named variant

	== Related references ==		== Related references ==

Admin: Fix sources-not-last: move == Sources == below == Related references == so it is the final content section

2026-08-08T21:36:28Z

Fix sources-not-last: move == Sources == below == Related references == so it is the final content section

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:36, 8 August 2026
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	- [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman Daytona]] — the other Newman-owned dial category, hosted on the 6239		- [[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|Paul Newman Daytona]] — the other Newman-owned dial category, hosted on the 6239
	- [[Reference:daytona-glossary\|Daytona glossary]] — definitions for Floating Big Red, Small Red, Sigma dial, and every other named variant		- [[Reference:daytona-glossary\|Daytona glossary]] — definitions for Floating Big Red, Small Red, Sigma dial, and every other named variant

			== Related references ==

			* [[Reference:daytona\|Daytona family index]]
			* [[Reference:6263\|Daytona 6263]] — the Big Red name comes from its red COSMOGRAPH text
			* [[Reference:6265\|Daytona 6265]] — the steel-bezel sibling
			* [[Reference:6264\|Daytona 6264]] — the pump-pusher predecessor

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==
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	* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-daytona-chronograph-1963-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Daytona] — Erik Slaven, Monochrome, 2024		* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-daytona-chronograph-1963-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Daytona] — Erik Slaven, Monochrome, 2024
	* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-first-rolex-daytona-by-benjamin-clymer Historical Perspectives: The Very First Rolex Daytona] — Benjamin Clymer, Hodinkee, 2013		* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-first-rolex-daytona-by-benjamin-clymer Historical Perspectives: The Very First Rolex Daytona] — Benjamin Clymer, Hodinkee, 2013


	~~== Related references ==~~

	* [[Reference:daytona\|Daytona family index]]
	* [[Reference:6263\|Daytona 6263]] — the Big Red name comes from its red COSMOGRAPH text
	* [[Reference:6265\|Daytona 6265]] — the steel-bezel sibling
	* [[Reference:6264\|Daytona 6264]] — the pump-pusher predecessor

	[[Category:Daytona]]		[[Category:Daytona]]
	[[Category:Daytona Manual-Wind]]		[[Category:Daytona Manual-Wind]]
	[[Category:Paul Newman]]		[[Category:Paul Newman]]

Admin: Fix: caption/alt text (Drive slowly Dad -> DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE, matching prose fix) + wrong sale name (Game Changers -> Racing Pulse, per Phillips lot NY080120/38's own title/meta)

2026-08-08T17:29:04Z

Fix: caption/alt text (Drive slowly Dad -> DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE, matching prose fix) + wrong sale name (Game Changers -> Racing Pulse, per Phillips lot NY080120/38's own title/meta)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:29, 8 August 2026
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	Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 anchors the category. Joanne Woodward bought the watch in 1983 and had the caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" for her husband. Newman wore it longer than any of his other Daytonas and gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund in 2008. It sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium, third on the all-time Rolex auction list as of that date, behind Newman's own 6239 ([[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|USD 17,752,500 at Phillips Winning Icons, 2017]]) and the Bao Dai 6062 (USD 5.06M).		Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 anchors the category. Joanne Woodward bought the watch in 1983 and had the caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" for her husband. Newman wore it longer than any of his other Daytonas and gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund in 2008. It sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium, third on the all-time Rolex auction list as of that date, behind Newman's own 6239 ([[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|USD 17,752,500 at Phillips Winning Icons, 2017]]) and the Bao Dai 6062 (USD 5.06M).

	[[File:Ref 6263 big-red-hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's '~~Drive slowly Dad~~' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020\|Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's '~~Drive slowly Dad~~' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020]]		[[File:Ref 6263 big-red-hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020\|Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020]]

	== The three Red variants ==		== The three Red variants ==
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	\| Reference \|\| 6263, stainless steel, Big Red dial		\| Reference \|\| 6263, stainless steel, Big Red dial
	\|-		\|-
	\| Sale \|\| Phillips, ~~Game Changers~~ sale, New York		\| Sale \|\| Phillips, Racing Pulse sale, New York
	\|-		\|-
	\| Date \|\| 12 December 2020		\| Date \|\| 12 December 2020

Admin: Fix Newman Big Red provenance per Phillips lot NY080120/38: engraving is "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" (Joanne Woodward, 1983), Newman gifted it to daughter Clea Newman Soderlund 2008 (not a gift from Nell); 2017 6239 result corrected to USD 17,752,500; Source list -> Sources with the primary lot link

2026-08-08T17:25:33Z

Fix Newman Big Red provenance per Phillips lot NY080120/38: engraving is "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" (Joanne Woodward, 1983), Newman gifted it to daughter Clea Newman Soderlund 2008 (not a gift from Nell); 2017 6239 result corrected to USD 17,752,500; Source list -> Sources with the primary lot link

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:25, 8 August 2026
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	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 'Big Red' Daytona — 6263 & 6265 Guide \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 'Big Red' Daytona — 6263 & 6265 Guide \| BezelBase
	\|description=The Big Red Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 — the standard 6263 dial with DAYTONA printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced around 1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 — engraved "~~Drive slowly Dad~~" ~~from his daughter Nell~~ — sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium. Third-most-expensive Rolex at auction on that date.		\|description=The Big Red Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 — the standard 6263 dial with DAYTONA printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced around 1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 — caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" by Joanne Woodward, who bought it in 1983 — sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium. Third-most-expensive Rolex at auction on that date.
	\|keywords=Big Red Daytona, Big Red 6263, Newman Big Red, Rolex Big Red, Paul Newman Drive Slowly ~~Dad~~, Phillips 2020, Floating Big Red, Small Red		\|keywords=Big Red Daytona, Big Red 6263, Newman Big Red, Rolex Big Red, Paul Newman Drive Slowly Joanne, Phillips 2020, Floating Big Red, Small Red
	\|image=Ref 6263 big-red-hero.webp		\|image=Ref 6263 big-red-hero.webp
	\|image_alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's '~~Drive slowly Dad~~' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020		\|image_alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020
	\|type=Article		\|type=Article
	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
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	The Big Red is the standard [[Reference:6263\|6263]] dial with "DAYTONA" in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. It appears around 1976 and becomes the default late 6263 dial. Most surviving 6263s carry one of three closely related forms: standard Big Red, Floating Big Red, or Small Red.		The Big Red is the standard [[Reference:6263\|6263]] dial with "DAYTONA" in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. It appears around 1976 and becomes the default late 6263 dial. Most surviving 6263s carry one of three closely related forms: standard Big Red, Floating Big Red, or Small Red.

	Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 anchors the category. ~~His daughter Nell gave him~~ the watch; the caseback ~~carries the engraving~~ "~~Drive slowly Dad~~." It sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium, third on the all-time Rolex auction list as of that date, behind Newman's own 6239 ([[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|USD 17~~.52M~~ at Phillips Winning Icons, 2017]]) and the Bao Dai 6062 (USD 5.06M).		Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 anchors the category. Joanne Woodward bought the watch in 1983 and had the caseback engraved "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" for her husband. Newman wore it longer than any of his other Daytonas and gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund in 2008. It sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium, third on the all-time Rolex auction list as of that date, behind Newman's own 6239 ([[Reference:paul-newman-daytona\|USD 17,752,500 at Phillips Winning Icons, 2017]]) and the Bao Dai 6062 (USD 5.06M).

	[[File:Ref 6263 big-red-hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'Drive slowly Dad' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020\|Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'Drive slowly Dad' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020]]		[[File:Ref 6263 big-red-hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'Drive slowly Dad' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020\|Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Big Red — Newman's 'Drive slowly Dad' example, hammered USD 5.48M Phillips NY 2020]]
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	\| Price (all-in) \|\| USD 5,475,000		\| Price (all-in) \|\| USD 5,475,000
	\|-		\|-
	\| Caseback engraving \|\| "~~Drive slowly Dad~~"		\| Caseback engraving \|\| "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE"
	\|-		\|-
	\| Provenance \|\| ~~Gifted~~ to Newman by his daughter ~~Nell~~ Newman; ~~part of~~ the ~~Newman~~ family ~~collection~~		\| Provenance \|\| Bought by Joanne Woodward in 1983 and given to Newman, who wore it until 2008 and then gave it to his daughter Clea Newman Soderlund; consigned by the family
	\|-		\|-
	\| Position on Rolex auction list (at sale date) \|\| 3rd all-time, behind Newman's 6239 and the Bao Dai Patek/Rolex 6062		\| Position on Rolex auction list (at sale date) \|\| 3rd all-time, behind Newman's 6239 and the Bao Dai Patek/Rolex 6062
	\|}		\|}

	The "~~Drive slowly Dad~~" engraving is what separates this 6263 from any other standard Big Red. It echoes the "Drive carefully me" engraving Joanne Woodward had put on Newman's 6239 decades earlier, and Phillips's lot essay drew the parallel directly.		The "DRIVE SLOWLY JOANNE" engraving is what separates this 6263 from any other standard Big Red. It echoes the "Drive carefully me" engraving Joanne Woodward had put on Newman's 6239 decades earlier, and Phillips's lot essay drew the parallel directly.

	As of December 2020, two watches from Newman's personal collection occupied first and third place on the all-time Rolex auction list. Both were gifts. Both carried family engravings. Neither was sold by Newman in his lifetime.		As of December 2020, two watches from Newman's personal collection occupied first and third place on the all-time Rolex auction list. Both were gifts. Both carried family engravings. Neither was sold by Newman in his lifetime.
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	- [[Reference:daytona-glossary\|Daytona glossary]] — definitions for Floating Big Red, Small Red, Sigma dial, and every other named variant		- [[Reference:daytona-glossary\|Daytona glossary]] — definitions for Floating Big Red, Small Red, Sigma dial, and every other named variant

	== ~~Source list~~ ==		== Sources ==

	* [https://www.phillips.com/article/42015509/made-for-racing-rolex-and-the-daytona Made for Racing: Rolex and the Daytona] — Phillips, 2018		* [https://www.phillips.com/article/42015509/made-for-racing-rolex-and-the-daytona Made for Racing: Rolex and the Daytona] — Phillips, 2018
	* ~~Phillips New York,~~ "~~Game Changers~~" ~~sale~~, Lot ~~catalogue for Paul Newman's 6263 Big Red~~, 12 December 2020		* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/NY080120/38 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona "Big Red", Ref. 6263, case 6'392'137 — Lot 38] — Phillips, New York, 12 December 2020
	* [https://watchesbysjx.com/2020/12/paul-newman-rolex-daytona-6263-big-red-auction.html Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona 6263 "Big Red" Sells for US$5.48m] — JX Su, SJX, 2020		* [https://watchesbysjx.com/2020/12/paul-newman-rolex-daytona-6263-big-red-auction.html Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona 6263 "Big Red" Sells for US$5.48m] — JX Su, SJX, 2020
	* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-daytona-chronograph-1963-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Daytona] — Erik Slaven, Monochrome, 2024		* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-daytona-chronograph-1963-in-depth-review/ In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Daytona] — Erik Slaven, Monochrome, 2024

Admin: SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

2026-08-04T00:23:40Z

SEO: clickable title + og:image + timestamps

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:23, 4 August 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex big-red-daytona}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex big-red-daytona}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex 'Big Red' Daytona — 6263 & 6265 Guide \| BezelBase		\|title=Rolex 'Big Red' Daytona — 6263 & 6265 Guide \| BezelBase
	\|description=The Big Red Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 — the standard 6263 dial with DAYTONA printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced around 1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 — engraved "Drive slowly Dad" from his daughter Nell — sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium. Third-most-expensive Rolex at auction on that date.		\|description=The Big Red Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 — the standard 6263 dial with DAYTONA printed in red block letters above the 6 o'clock sub-register. Introduced around 1976, default 6263 dial by the early 1980s. Paul Newman's own Big Red 6263 — engraved "Drive slowly Dad" from his daughter Nell — sold at Phillips New York on 12 December 2020 for USD 5,475,000 including premium. Third-most-expensive Rolex at auction on that date.
	\|keywords=Big Red Daytona, Big Red 6263, Newman Big Red, Rolex Big Red, Paul Newman Drive Slowly Dad, Phillips 2020, Floating Big Red, Small Red		\|keywords=Big Red Daytona, Big Red 6263, Newman Big Red, Rolex Big Red, Paul Newman Drive Slowly Dad, Phillips 2020, Floating Big Red, Small Red
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	\|og_type=article		\|og_type=article
	\|published_time=2026-04-19T14:53:16Z		\|published_time=2026-04-19T14:53:16Z
	\|modified_time=2026-06-~~29T01~~:22:~~29Z~~		\|modified_time=2026-07-18T14:18:36Z
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