Collectors can’t get enough of Paul Newman’s Rolex

With its heady mix of mythology, technical skill and rarity, Rolex’s Cosmograph Daytona is armed with the attributes likely to excite both seasoned collectors and those new to the field. “It’s a cult icon that never seems to lose its status,” says Andrew Shear, a New York-based specialist in vintage Rolexes.

Launched in 1963, the Cosmograph Daytona was created for racing drivers and remains inextricably linked to the Florida racetrack. Back then, you could pick one up for around…