The watch replica in question wasn’t a Rolex or a Tudor but a timepiece from a USA brand made by a well known French company!You may remember we previously published an article on a possible Rolex dive watch replica on the wrist of Paul Newman. We did some further research and obtained a bigger image taken from the set of the movie Harper, in which Paul Newman starred as the main character.
In 1954 they set up a subsidiary in Swizterland, Waltham International SA Switzerland. Waltham International SA Switzerland still manufacturers ttimepieces under the Waltham name today, but they are completely different from their historical ancestors.The bigger image allowed us to zoom in further to spot any recognizable logos or features of the timepiece. We were able to spot a splash of red in the shape of a W on top of a single line of text which confirmed the maker of the watch replica . Waltham! The Waltham Watch Company also known as the American Waltham Watch Co. and the American Watch Co produced pocketwatches, wristwatches and other precision instruments from 1850 to 1957.
Was this a personal watch replica of Paul Newman? We think there is a high likelihood it was, as he went through many watch replica es replica before he got given his iconic Rolex Daytona Ref 6239 by his wife Joanne Woodward. In the film Harper, Paul Newman’s character was a private detective and perhaps he thought the watch replica was a good fit for the character.The watch replica on the wrist of Paul Newman is a Waltham dive watch replica . These were produced from the 1950’s to the 1960s. They were actually made by Blancpain but contained dials that had the signature red W and the name Waltham printed below it. We had a feeling previously the watch replica could have been a Blancpain because of its bezel and it turned out to be an accurate guess.
Closeup of the watch replica on his wrist. You can make out the red “W” on the dial.
A vintage Waltham/Blancpain-Bathyscaphe Diver like the one on Paul Newmans wrist.
It didn’t turn out to be a Rolex or a Tudor tool watch replica , but we think its still pretty cool that Paul Newman once owned a dive watch replica with some pedigree.
