The highest grossing lot at Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in New York last week was a Heuer Monaco Ref. 1133B, pictured above, that Steve McQueen wore while filming the 1971 movie “Le Mans.” It sold for $1.4 million, the second highest price achieved for a Heuer timepiece at auction.
New York—Sotheby's Important Watches auction in New York last week garnered $16.6 million, with the auction house noting strong demand for rare vintage Rolexes with notable provenance.
It was 85 percent sold by lot, with enthusiastic bidding seen in the room, on the telephone, and online, Sotheby’s said.
The auction house said the watch, which was estimated to sell for $500,000 to $1 million, was arguably the most important Heuer to ever come to market.
McQueen, who was heavily involved in the making of the film and decisions about his wardrobe, wanted his character, driver Michael Delaney to look like Swiss racing legend Jo Siffert.
Property master Don Nunley offered several authentic racing chronographs for McQueen to choose from, and Sotheby’s said he gravitated toward the Heuer Monaco with the blue dial, in part because, like Siffert, Delaney had a Heuer patch on his suit.
Steve McQueen, left, wearing a Heuer Monaco watch and his Gulf racing suit during the filming of “Le Mans.” One of the Monaco chronographs the actor wore while filming the 1971 racing film made its auction debut last week at Sotheby’s. (McQueen photo copyright of Mel Traxel, courtesy of TAG Heuer; watch photo courtesy of Sotheby’s)
Nunley had more than 20 additional Heuer pieces, including six Monaco models, sent to set. The Monaco on offer was not one of the six but another that McQueen personally chose from Nunley, according to Sotheby’s.
The exact Heuer Monacos used in specific scenes remain unclear, the auction house said, but it's known that McQueen wore the Monaco on offer, case number 160,304, as it was the only one fitted on a steel bracelet.
The timepiece was part of the offering “Heuer Champions,” a selection of vintage chronographs from the brand now known as TAG Heuer. The collection was 92 percent sold and outshone its pre-sale estimate, fetching $2 million.
The second highest grossing lot of the auction was a Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5723/112R-001, circa 2018, that four heavily interested bidders drove to a final price of $900,000.
The watch, pictured below, was estimated to sell for $400,000 to $800,000.
A watch featuring a baguette-cut, ruby-set bezel with a chocolate dial signed by both the maker Patek Philippe and the retailer Tiffany & Co. The watch is one of only two examples that have ever been brought to market, said Sotheby’s.
Also a highlight of the sale, a Rolex Reference 1803 Day-Date from 1963 that belonged to former president of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser sold for $840,000, soaring past its estimate of $30,000 to $60,000.
The lot was pursued by seven bidders in a nearly six-minute bidding frenzy, Sotheby’s said.
Offered at auction for the first time by Nasser's grandson, the timepiece was a gift from the ruler’s lifelong friend Anwar El Sadat, who succeeded Nasser as Egypt’s third president.
The back of former President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser’s Rolex timepiece, which was gifted to him by his friend and successor Anwar El Sadat, features an inscription in Arabic, (pictured above) that translates to, “Mr. Anwar El Sadat 26-9-1963.”
The back of the watch features an inscription in Arabic that reads, “Mr. Anwar El Sadat 26-9-1963,” which Sotheby’s said marked the bond between the two.
Also in the top ten lots were a Patek Philippe Reference 5208P that was estimated at $700,000 to $1.1 million and realized for $780,000, and a fresh-to-market Rolex Reference 6238 Transitional Daytona “John Player Special” that sold for $768,000 against an estimate of $500,000 to $1.5 million.
The Rolex, which the auction house said was in “pristine condition,” was offered from the original owner’s family, who had recently discovered the watch hidden in a small flowerpot in his New York home.
The gold 1680/8 “Nipple Dial” Submariner worn by Bill Paxton in the movie drew “a spirited battle” between three bidders, the auction house said.
It sold for $264,000, more than four times its high-end estimate of $60,000.
The circa 1984 yellow gold Rolex Ref. 1680/8 “Nipple Dial” Submariner owned by Al Giddings and worn on screen by Bill Paxton in “Titanic” more than quadrupled its estimate at Sotheby’s last week.
Underwater cinematographer Al Giddings (left) routinely wore his Rolex “Red” Submariner (right), which sold for $54,000, during his dives to the Titanic wreckage site.
A 1680 “Red” Submariner that Giddings wore on more than a dozen dives to the Titanic wreckage fetched $54,000 against an estimate of $20,000 to $40,000.
“The results of today’s sale illustrate that watches do so much more than just tell time,” said Sotheby's Global Head of Watches Geoff Hess.
“Whether they’ve been worn to the depths of the ocean, worn by historical political figures or even legendary Hollywood icons, they are far beyond something you wear on your wrist – rather they are instruments that evoke feeling and emotion. It’s this passion that connects the watch community and brings back ‘the fun’ to collecting.”
Additional highlights include the sale of a yellow gold Patek Philippe Reference 1518 from 1950, and an Art Deco Cartier “Mystery Clock.”
A yellow gold Patek Philippe Reference 1518 from 1950, which sold within its estimate for $456,000.
A 1921 Art-Deco Cartier “Mystery Clock” that sold for $408,000, within its pre-sale estimate.
Notably, toward the end of the sale, a limited-edition pocket watch designed in celebration of Citizen’s 100th anniversary sold for $20,400, with proceeds going to benefit 1% for the Planet, an international nonprofit whose members, like Citizen, pledge at least 1 percent of their profits to environmental causes.
Nearly 1,000 people from across 55 countries registered to participate in the Important Watches sale, with more than 30 percent of participants under the age of 40.
Sotheby’s watch auctions will continue with the Fine Watches sale, which is open for bidding through Dec. 13.
