Our final live auction of the spring 2025 season, the New York Watch Auction: XII, takes place on 7-8 June, at our Manhattan headquarters. The auction includes 140 of the world's finest watches – and though we are loath to boast, we truly think it’s one of the best catalogues we've ever put together. We'll highlight several of the most interesting lots and stories featured in the sale over the next few weeks, including the watch highlighted in this article.
– By Sophie Furley
It was a particularly early start for the Phillips team as we set off from Switzerland, bound for the legendary Paul Ricard racetrack in the South of France to meet racing driver Victor Jabouille. But when you are passionate about both cars and watches, a 3 am alarm isn’t a hardship, it is the call of adventure.
Victor Jabouille is the son of legendary French Formula 1 driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille (1942-2023) who drove himself to racing stardom when he won the French Grand Prix in 1979 with Renault. Victor is also a racing car driver in his own right and had invited us to join him for the Grand Prix de France Historique where he was driving as the guest of honor.
Over the course of his racing career, Jean-Pierre competed in 49 Grand Prix races, winning the above French Grand Prix in 1979 and the Austrian Grand Prix in 1980. He wasn’t only a racing driver; however, he was also a gifted engineer, and his association with the French automaker enabled him to help develop a six-cylinder turbo-charged engine, a first in Formula One and one that would change the face of the sport forever.
The original car from the 1970s has been lovingly preserved by Renault and was specially prepared for Victor to drive for the very first time at this historic motorsport event. Adding to the poignancy of the occasion, Victor would also be wearing his father’s white race suit, taking him back to a time when his dad was at the height of his career. “Driving my father’s F1 car for the first time is going be an emotional moment, both for the Renault teams who continue to perpetuate this historical passion, but also for me. It is going to be magical.”
This car is very different from the modern-day cars that Victor is used to driving. “The most impressive thing when you drive a historic Formula 1 car is to find yourself in this shell made of fiberglass and aluminum with your feet in front of the wheels, your knees at the level of the suspension and the suspension triangles, and to be seated much further back, for safety reasons.”
“It is great to be able to drive these kinds of vehicles, but of course, to drive my father’s car at a French event, and especially a historical Formula 1 event is going to be incredible. I just got in the car, and I had tears in my eyes.”
We are here to witness this moment first hand, but also to learn more about the Rolex Cosmograph “Big Red” Daytona Ref. 6265 watch that Victor is consigning to Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo for its upcoming New York Watch Auction. The watch was offered to Jean-Pierre by Renault in appreciation of the win, which was not only a first for him personally, but also the first for Renault and a French racing team. Renault had the watch engraved with “DIE TO DRIVE – RENAULT F1 – J.P.J. 79,” an inscription that was full of meaning for both father and son.
The Rolex Cosmograph “Big Red” Daytona Ref. 6265 is an historically important 37 mm stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with a bracelet. The model was launched in the late 1960s with the references 6263 and 6265, which replaced the first Oyster Cosmograph model, reference 6240. Reference 6265 was introduced to the market in 1969 and ceased production in the 1980s.
Compared to the first generation of the Cosmograph Daytona, this model features screw down pushers and carries the “Oyster” designation on the dial, offering improved water resistance. The model was offered in either stainless steel or gold and the movement was upgraded from a Valjoux 722 movement to the more reliable Valjoux 727 caliber.
The case is dated to 1972 and is fitted with the extremely desirable “millerighe” mark I pushers that are correct for the serial number. Having been purchased by Renault in 1979, the “Big Red” Daytona dial is also correct for the year it was sold. It was most likely fitted to a “new old stock” watch at the time of sale.
This rare Daytona has remained in the Jabouille family for nearly fifty years and now comes to market for the very first time. It is accompanied by a heartfelt letter from Victor who explains what this watch represents for him: “I remember the day my father told me the story of this watch. It wasn’t just about winning, it was about daring to believe in something revolutionary, about refusing to accept the limits. That spirit ‘Die to Drive’ is engraved on the case, but it is also engraved in our family’s legacy.”
Watching Victor return to the pits after his first lap around the Paul Ricard track, it became instantly clear that this day was deeply emotional —not just for him, but for everyone on the Renault team. Even for us, as we followed Victor throughout the day to capture the moments you will discover in the video below, it was impossible not to be moved by this scene of a son honoring the memory of his father who left too soon.
The watch will go on sale at the New York Watch Auction on 7 June 2025 and it carries an estimate between USD 50,000 and 100,000. For enthusiasts of both horological and automobile heritage, this timepiece offers a rare opportunity to own an extraordinary piece of history.
You can learn more, place a bid, and view the entire New York Watch Auction: XII catalogue right here.