SurveysJul 09, 2025
Jewelry Stays Strong as Luxury Market Slows, Bain & Co. Says Turbulence will be the new baseline for luxury as it faces its biggest potential setbacks in 15 years, a recent report said.
AuctionsSep 21, 2018
Phillips Pulls Steven McQueen Submariner from Sale
Questions about provenance and the objection of the late actor’s family forced Phillips to withdraw the timepiece from its upcoming watch auction.
This is the Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513 that, it is believed, Steve McQueen gave as a gift to his longtime stuntman Loren Janes. The watch has been withdrawn from Phillips’ upcoming auction due to the objections of the late actor’s family.
New York—The Rolex Submariner that allegedly once belonged to the King of Cool and landed with one of his favorite stuntmen will not be offered at auction this fall.
Back in June, Phillips announced the sale of a Rolex Submariner Ref. 5513 that it said was worn by Steve McQueen and then gifted in the 1970s to Loren Janes, who stood in as a stunt double for the late actor in multiple movies and TV shows.
Making the story even more fantastic was the fact that the timepiece was said to have survived the 2016 Sand Fire in California that consumed Janes’ home.
The watch’s pre-sale estimate came in at $300,000 to $600,000, but given how Rolexes with an interesting backstory have been selling at auction lately, there were expectations that the timepiece would garner much more.
Then questions started to surface.
Watch world experts, like Jake Ehrlich of Jake’s Rolex World, expressed doubts the timepiece’s provenance, and so did McQueen’s son Chad, backed by an attorney and the estate of his late father. The lawyer for the McQueen estate sent out an official statement saying it disputed the provenance of the watch but offered no further details.
Ehrlich, in particular, launched an extensive investigation into the history of the timepiece, eventually concluding that McQueen likely did give this particular watch to Janes but never wore it himself. (A lengthy post documenting his final conclusions in the mysterious case of the Steve McQueen Submariner can be read on the Jake’s Rolex World website.)
Phillips eventually reached the same conclusion—that the watch was a gift from McQueen to his former stuntman but it had some of the details wrong in the original release announcing the timepiece’s sale—but opted to withdraw it from its upcoming auction anyway, citing the displeasure of the McQueen family.
The auction house’s official statement on the matter reads in part: “While new information arose regarding the timing of McQueen’s gift and whether he wore the watch, we remain confident Steve McQueen gave the watch to Loren Janes based on further evidence and testimonials from people close to [both men]. Despite numerous attempts to engage in discussions with the McQueen family, making clear that Phillips was committed to offering the watch with the corrected information, the family remains unsupportive of the sale … Without the McQueen family’s support we are unable to proceed.”
Arthur Barens, the attorney for the McQueen estate,
could not be reached for comment on the auction house’s decision by deadline.
Phillips upcoming New York watch auction originally was scheduled for Oct. 25 but will now take place Dec. 5. The change in schedule had nothing to do with the controversy over the McQueen Submariner, a spokesman for the auction house said.
Phillips upcoming New York watch auction originally was scheduled for Oct. 25 but will now take place Dec. 5. The change in schedule had nothing to do with the controversy over the McQueen Submariner, a spokesman for the auction house said.
More on Auctions
The Latest
Policies & IssuesJul 09, 2025
James Avery to Donate $1M to Texas Hill Country Relief EffortsThe jewelry company is one of several contributing to relief efforts in the region after the recent floods.
Supplier BulletinJul 09, 2025
JCK Unwrapped: Trends, Insights & Post-Show TipsSponsored by Rio Grande Jewelry Supply
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
CollectionsJul 09, 2025
Cece Jewellery’s New Fruit Jewels Celebrate Life’s SweetnessThe “For the Love of Fruits” collection features five fruit pendants, each holding a different meaning.
Weekly QuizJul 02, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsJul 09, 2025
The Most-Read Stories of 2025, So FarDiamonds and crimes (some involving diamonds) top the list of National Jeweler’s most popular stories halfway through the year.
SourcingJul 09, 2025
Florida Couple Finds 3-Carat Diamond in ArkansasThey discovered “The Dash Diamond,” named for their dog, at the Crater of Diamonds State Park earlier this month.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
CollectionsJul 08, 2025
Mikimoto’s High Jewelry Collection Turns Pearls into PetalsThe “Les Pétales” collection imagines roses caught mid-bloom as a tribute to nature’s beauty.
ColumnistsJul 08, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Jewelers Struggle With Premium PricingLuxury brands charge thousands for their shoes and handbags. Jewelers pricing diamond products should take note, Peter Smith writes.
IndependentsJul 08, 2025
David Rotenberg of David Craig Jewelers Dies at 79Rotenberg was an active member of the American Gem Society and an accomplished appraiser who also worked with therapy dogs at a hospital.
TechnologyJul 08, 2025
‘Diamond Divas’ Brings the Showroom to Social Media Reality SeriesIt follows New York-based brand Shahla Karimi Jewelry’s all-women team in “Say Yes to the Dress” meets “The Office”-style episodes.
Policies & IssuesJul 08, 2025
SMO Gold Launches New FoundationIn its inaugural year, the SMO Foundation will focus on supporting two organizations in West Africa and one in South America.
Policies & IssuesJul 07, 2025
Higher Tariffs Set to Take Effect Aug. 1, Officials SayThe announcement comes just as the 90-day freeze on the “reciprocal” tariffs nears its end, giving countries more time to negotiate.
MajorsJul 07, 2025
Natural Diamond Council CEO David Kellie To Step DownKellie, who joined the organization in 2019, will remain in his role through the end of 2025.
CrimeJul 07, 2025
7 Suspects Charged in California Jewelry Store BurglaryPolice officers apprehended the suspects as they were allegedly attempting to gain entry into another jewelry store.
Events & AwardsJul 07, 2025
Applications Open for Ella Klein Internship The program, a collaboration between Julius Klein Diamonds and the Women’s Jewelry Association, is in its second year.
Supplier BulletinJul 03, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
MajorsJul 03, 2025
Brilliant Earth Names Tennis Star Madison Keys as Its New AmbassadorThe 2025 Australian Open champion is the jewelry brand’s first athlete ambassador.
MajorsJul 03, 2025
Muse Sets Up Shop in Nordstrom’s New Jewelry HallThe West Village jewelry boutique’s new shop-in-shop is the cornerstone of Nordstrom’s revamped jewelry hall.
SourcingJul 03, 2025
SRK Announces Its Natural Diamonds Are Now Carbon-NegativeThis past year, the manufacturer said it recorded below-zero emissions per carat of natural diamond.
CollectionsJul 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Firework of Diamonds From YepremThe brand’s “Golden Strada” statement necklace features round, marquise, and pear diamonds that sparkle like Fourth of July fireworks.
CrimeJul 03, 2025
JSA Shares Holiday Weekend Security Tips Amid Spike in BurglariesJSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.
MajorsJul 02, 2025
Boucheron Looks to LA for First West Coast FlagshipLocated on Rodeo Drive, the store’s design was inspired by Hollywood and Los Angeles culture.
MajorsJul 02, 2025
Marco Bicego Opens Milan FlagshipThe new location continues the brand’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.
WatchesJul 02, 2025
Chrono24 Revamps Brand, Launches New CampaignThe online watch marketplace’s “Time Is Our Thing” campaign highlights the importance of time.
SourcingJul 02, 2025
Bernadette Mack Joins Gem Legacy as Executive DirectorShe will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, industry partnerships, and the launch of the Gem Legacy Campus in Tanzania.
