Chronograph Echoes the Clone Rolex Daytona Paul Newman

This moniker refers to a distinctive replica Rolex Daytona model from the 1960s, made famous by actor Paul Newman. Over the years, these watches have become highly sought-after, setting numerous auction records and playing a key role in fueling the surge of the vintage watch market.

For most, owning an original Daytona Paul Newman remains a distant dream. These watches are rare, incredibly valuable, and have sold for millions at auction – Newman’s personal Daytona fetched a staggering $17.8 million. Even the most affordable models come with six-figure price tags.

If you admire the look of the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman but can’t dive into the vintage Rolex market, there are more accessible alternatives. One of the best comes from Swiss brand Nivada Grenchen, which offers chronographs inspired by its own mid-century designs, rather than just mimicking Rolex. And now, Nivada is set to release another one.

A Brief History of the Daytona Paul Newman
The “Paul Newman” nickname refers to several vintage Rolex Daytona models, including references 6239, 6241, 6262, 6263, 6264, and 6265, produced between the mid-1960s and early 1970s. However, not all Daytonas within these references are “Paul Newmans” – the defining feature is the dial.

The standout element of the Daytona Paul Newman is its art deco-style dial, with bold fonts and square-tipped lollipop markers on the chronograph sub-dials. This unconventional design sets it apart from other Daytonas. Interestingly, Rolex wasn’t the only brand using such dials – these so-called “exotic” dials were produced by Singer, a third-party supplier, which also made similar dials for other brands like LIP, Vulcain, and Nivada Grenchen.

Nivada’s Vintage Chronographs: A Hidden Gem Resurfaces
During the same era, Nivada Grenchen produced a series of exotic-dial chronographs contemporaneous with the Daytona Paul Newman. The brand has since reissued several of these models, which often sell out quickly. Now, an obscure model from Nivada’s archives is being revived – the Chronosport.

Nivada Grenchen, like many Swiss mechanical watch brands, struggled during the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s and ’80s, eventually going defunct. It was revived in 2018, focusing on faithful recreations of its vintage designs. Two years ago, Nivada’s owner, Guillaume Laidet, stumbled upon a vintage Chronosport from the 1970s at auction. This model featured a Singer “Paul Newman” dial with an unusual two-register layout, a rotating dive bezel, and a tapered integrated bracelet.

Only 20 prototypes of the original Chronosport were made, and they were never commercially available. After two years of development, the modern version is finally here – and it’s impressive.

Introducing the New Nivada Chronosport
Like most of Nivada’s modern reissues, the new Chronosport remains true to its predecessor. It sports a black dial with a tachymeter scale and khaki-colored sub-dials in the signature Paul Newman style at 12 and 9 o’clock, used for tracking elapsed minutes and running seconds.

The black aluminum rotating bezel, white date window at 3 o’clock, and 200m water resistance (still labeled in red on the dial) are all preserved from the original. The stainless steel case remains 38mm, while the bracelet has been updated to a three-link design. You can also choose from 10 strap options. The box-style crystal has been upgraded to sapphire, replacing the acrylic used in the vintage version.

The clone Rolex movement has also evolved. While the original used a hand-wound Valjoux 7765, the new Chronosport houses the automatic Valjoux 7750, offering greater convenience. However, the automatic movement adds thickness, with the modern Chronosport coming in at 15.7mm.