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THE ICE-BLUE DAYTONA
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, Ref. 116506
Introduced in 1963, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was built for motor racing, named for the Daytona International Speedway and its tachymeter bezel designed to calculate average speed over distance.
Its place in popular culture was cemented by Paul Newman. The 'exotic dial' Daytonas associated with him were slow sellers when new, yet became among the most coveted watches in the world. In 2017, Newman's own Daytona sold at auction for $17.8 million, a world record for a wristwatch at the time.
For the Daytona's 50th anniversary in 2013, Rolex did something it had never done before: it produced the first Daytona in 950 platinum. Reference 116506 is unmistakable. Its ice-blue dial, a colour Rolex reserves for its platinum watches, is set against a chestnut-brown Cerachrom ceramic bezel. Understated at a glance, its weight on the wrist gives it away immediately, platinum being considerably denser than steel or gold.
At its heart is the Calibre 4130, Rolex's in-house automatic chronograph movement introduced in 2000, with roughly 72 hours of power reserve.
From a 1960s racing instrument to one of the great icons of modern watch collecting, this is fifty years of heritage, realised in platinum.
Created for the Daytona's 50th anniversary. Offered in Adam's forthcoming Fine Jewellery sale.
Lot 121 €50,000 - €70,000
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John ffrench was an instrumental figure in the design industry in Ireland and a distinguished pioneer of Irish studio pottery.
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"I should declare my hand. I have a weakness for pictures that punch above their physical weight, and for artists who have been quietly underrated for too long. This pair is both. They are intimate enough to live with at close quarters and serious enough to repay any amount of looking. If the market has lately shown signs of catching up with eighteenth-century Irish painting and I think it has, these two small panels feel, to me, like exactly the sort of thing that will look obvious in twenty years’ time."
Adam’s is honoured to present works from the collection of Lord Rossmore in the upcoming Country House Collections auction at Howth Castle on 28th April. It is seldom that an influential Irish family collection that has survived through the generations comes to the open market.
Works Sold at Adam’s Now in the Irish National Collection
A great opportunity to purchase both established and lesser-known artist’s work at an accessible price point, the Online Picture Auction is the first of many sales to be hosted at Adam’s in 2026. It is perfect for those looking to start a collection and the discerning collector alike.
Through this article, let our expert Adam Pearson guiding you to the (re)discovery of the once established Irish painter Richard O’Neill.
Buying at Auction and the Role of Antiques in a Modern Home
Important Irish Art Auction Highlights
Oliver Dowling Collection by Aidan Dunne
2024 is a year in which Adam’s wants to recognise the key role buying antique furniture and furnishings at auction contributes greatly to the sustainable initiative. In 2019 the Environmental Protection Agency reported stark figures that each year in Ireland 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture goes into landfill. Similar to the problem of ‘fast fashion’, the constant production and consumption of new items is leading to rapidly growing waste problem. We want to acknowledge those who are already buying second hand or antique furniture at auction and to encourage new buyers by highlighting the benefits of acquiring affordable, well-made quality items that are built to last.
Irish author, recipe creator and lifestyle influencer, Indy Parsons, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
