I don’t know if you have heard the news. Some of the world’s most sought-after Rolex watches — the Daytona will be sold on the Phillips auction house. And if Phillips sounds familiar, that’s because just last fall they’re the ones who sold Paul Newman’s personal Daytona for a great quantity. 
The auction will take place in Geneva which is called dubbed Daytona Ultimatum, and while the company hasn’t mentioned which models will hit the auction block, we have no doubt these are going to be some of the best money can purchase. In a press release Philips teased that they’ll be showcasing, “an extremely limited selection of the finest, rarest, and best-preserved Rolex Daytona wrist watches known to exist.”
Actor, race car driver, philanthropist — Paul Newman could do it all. He could also have it all, but he chose a Rolex Daytona. Not long after Newman was seen wearing this timepiece, this ugly-duckling of a watch — that once collected dust on jewelers shelves for years — soon became appealing. It also got a new nickname, the Daytona, after the famous driving track. The rest is history.
Apart from Paul Newman’s personal timepiece, the most valuable Rolex replica watches are those of the first ‘series. During the first series, which lasted from 1963 until the 1980’s, a small number of models were made and given a 4-digit model number. The watches from the first series also differ from the second and third because they’re manual, not automatics or self-winding chronographs that you’d find later on and today.
So, how do you know if you hit the jackpot? Well, an original first series Daytona will always have a 4-digit reference number and it will be one of these models. If you really want another way to verify the identity of a series one, look at the sub dials — the domed crystals will be made of acrylic. 
However, at present, we’re just going to have to wait and see what Phillips has to give to us. And while very few of us have the means to reach into our piggy banks for an opportunity at one of these rare replica watches, it’s going to be funny enough seeing what they have over the coming months. It’s going to be even more interesting to see what they go for!