Thanks to the crystal case backs, the pleasure of watching the movement is an indispensable element for many watch lovers. For some, it's the opposite. The closed case backs, which are used instead of a clean page to write a note on history, can appear as a unique canvas that identifies the wearer with his watch.
Nicknamed Paul Newman, one of the first models that come to mind when Vintage Rolex Daytona is mentioned, this model was gifted to the famous actor by his wife, Joanne. On the case back of this Daytona, which broke records by selling for $17.75 million at an auction, there is a note written to Paul Newman from his wife: Drive Carefully Me.
In 1983, his wife, Joanne, gifted Paul Newman another Daytona. The text on the back of this watch was a continuation of the first message: Drive Slowly / Joanne. This model also exchanged hands for $5,475 million through an auction.
The last Daytona, which was gifted to Paul Newman from Joanne, was also the last link in the trilogy. The case back of the watch with Ref. 116519 read: Drive Very Slowly / Joanne. I think Joanne complained a lot about Paul driving at high speeds.
Charismatic and sensational president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. He also took his place in the dusty pages of history with his written case back watches. The Omega Ultra Thin Ref. OT3980 gifted to Kennedy by Florida senator Grant Stockdale was one of them.
The back of the Nastrix watch, which was gifted to Kennedy in 1963 by David and Evangeline Bruce, one of the favorite couples of Washington society, was also meticulously engraved.
The last watch, thought to belong to Kennedy, is the most special piece on the list! The source of this watch is a mystery as its accuracy cannot be confirmed, but the prospect is exciting. A Rolex Day-Date gifted to John F. Kennedy by Marilyn Monroe. Behind: Jack / With Love as always / from MARILYN / May 29th, 1962. The continuation of the story is extremely tragic for both, individually.
The Cartier Tank watch of John F. Kennedy's wife, Jackie Kennedy, also has a special engraving. Gifted by Prince Stanislaw “Stas” Radziwill, the watch was presented after a 50-mile walk on Palm beach.
Contrary director John Landis gifted this Cartier Tank to his producer. Landis is the director of films such as Animal House, Blues Brothers, Trading Places, and Coming to America, as well as Michael Jackson's Thriller and Black or White clips.
The name Bud, engraved on the back of the Rolex Oyster Royalite Observatory model, which was gifted to Marlon Brando by his family when he was 19, was Brando's nickname among the family.
1972, The Godfather, a rejected Oscar, and a Rolex Datejust
inscribed by Don “Vito” Corleone, gifted to Marlon Brando. Isn't it
impressive?
Another iconic Rolex version is the “bezel-less” Rolex GMT-Master
model used by Marlon Brando as Colonel Kurtz in the 1972 movie
Apocalypse Now. M. Brando was engraved on the back of the watch,
which sold for $1,952 million at an auction in 2019.
The golden Longines, which was gifted to Albert Einstein in 1931, also hosts one of the most famous case back inscriptions in history.
The Omega Speedmaster model, which was tried to be gifted to Richard Nixon to celebrate the launch into space with the Apollo series, one of the most challenging missions in human history, is rejected by Nixon due to the expensiveness of the watch to be gifted. 50 years later, the same watch is reproduced and released as a special series by Omega. Without that special message on the back cover, of course...
Omega Speedmaster Photo by Fratello Watches
