A Heuer Monaco Reference 1133B, circa 1969, worn by Steve McQueen in the motion picture Le Mans, is the top lot of Sotheby’s Important Watches auction in New York on June 15.
Heuer Monaco worn by Steve McQueen in the movie, Le Mans. Estimate: $500,000 – $1 million
Sotheby’s
The watch is accompanied by hundreds of pages of documentation—including correspondence between the film production and Heuer, as well as more than 200 archival photographs from the set. It is appearing at auction for the first time. It carries an estimate of $500,000 to $1 million.
According to Sotheby’s, the watch is one of seven Heuer Monaco timepieces used during the filming of Le Mans, centered on the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans, and one of three acquired by the film’s property master, Don Nunley, when production ended in late 1970. Nunley sold two of the watches in the early 2000s, including one now on permanent display at the TAG Heuer Museum in Switzerland. The Monaco offered at Sotheby’s is the last one he owns.
Nunley has said this particular watch spent the most time on McQueen’s wrist during filming, something Sotheby’s says is reflected in its condition.
Even without its Hollywood provenance, the Monaco is considered a landmark watch. Introduced in 1969, it was among the first commercially available automatic chronographs, powered by the revolutionary Caliber 11 movement. Distinctive features include its square stainless steel water-resistant case, blue dial with red hands and white subdials and an unusual case layout with the winding crown on the left side of the case and the chronograph pushers on the right.
Rolex Reference 5512 Submariner, owned by Steve McQueen and gifted to Jimmy Brucker, circa 1967. Estimate: $200,000 to $400,000
Sotheby’s
McQueen was also known for his Rolex watches. One of them, a Rolex Submariner Reference 5512, will also be offered in the sale. The watch is accompanied by documentation attesting to its ownership by McQueen, including a letter from Jimmy Brucker, a close friend who became the actor’s adviser on his collection of cars and motorcycles during the final years of his life.
According to Sotheby’s, the watch was gifted by McQueen in 1977, briefly reclaimed, then returned to Brucker in 1980, the final year of the actor’s life. It is estimated at $200,000 to $400,000.
Three other watches in the sale also carry notable provenance:
Patek Philippe Ref. 5971P-001 owned and worn by President George W. Bush, Circa 2007
Sotheby’s
• A Patek Philippe Reference 5971P-001 formerly owned by President George W. Bush and, according to Sotheby’s, rarely worn. The perpetual calendar is accompanied by its original certificate of origin dated 2007 and bearing the name of the 43rd president. Sotheby’s estimates production at approximately 100 pieces, making it considerably rarer than the already scarce Reference 5970P. Estimate: $200,000 to $400,000.
Rolex Reference 18238 Day-Date, yellow gold watch with engraved caseback, presented to Jack Nicklaus. Estimate: $10,000 to $20,000
Sotheby’s
• A Rolex Day-Date Reference 18238 presented to Jack Nicklaus on Aug. 2, 1992, at the annual Van Patrick Memorial Invitational. Estimate: $10,000 to $20,000.
Rolex Reference 1680 “Red” Submariner, circa 1973, formerly owned by Reggie Jackson. Estimate: $10,000 to $20,000
Sotheby’s
• A Rolex Reference 1680 “Red” Submariner formerly owned by baseball legend Reggie Jackson. Estimate: $10,000 to $20,000.
Cartier Reference WGCH0018 NSO Crash. Estimate: $120,000 to $240,000
Sotheby’s
Other highlights include a Cartier Reference WGCH0018 “NSO” Crash, circa 2020. Sotheby’s said it is the first New Special Order Crash known to appear at auction in yellow gold with a red cabochon-set crown, white dial and black printing. Estimate: $120,000 to $240,000.
Another standout is the Patek Philippe Double Eagle: The Henry Graves Jr. Coin Watch, dating to 1925. One of the first two Patek Philippe coin watches known to the market, it appears as an ordinary Double Eagle coin when closed, with a concealed latch revealing the watch within.
Patek Philippe, Reference 802J 1904 Double Eagle Coin watch. Estimate: $300,000 to $500,000
Sotheby’s
It passed through the Graves family before appearing in Sotheby’s landmark Graves/Fullerton sale in New York in 2012, where it sold for $92,500. Having remained in the same collection since then, it returns to auction for the first time in more than a decade with an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000.
Important watches by leading independent watchmakers are also featured in the sale.
F. P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu Byblos, tantalum semi-skeletonized watch. Est.: $200,000-$400,000
Sotheby’s
An F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu “Byblos,” circa 2015, is among the most sought-after Journe models. Limited to 99 pieces and available only through F.P. Journe boutiques, the tantalum semi-skeletonized watch carries an estimate of $200,000 to $400,000.
F. P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance with an estimate of $400,000 to $800,000
Sotheby’s
An F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance, reportedly worn only a handful of times by its original owner and preserved in exceptional condition with its presentation boxes, is estimated at $400,000 to $800,000.
Simon Brette Ref. 77.147.302 Chronomètre Artisans A limited edition pink gold semi-skeletonized wristwatch, Circa 2025. Estimate: $100,000 to $200,000
Sotheby’s
Also making its auction debut is the Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans Rose. Brette introduced the Chronomètre Artisans as a 12-piece subscription series in 2023. This version features a 39mm pink-gold case, a hand-engraved pink-gold dial by Yasmina Anti and a black DLC finish. Limited to 50 pieces, not all of which have been completed, it is estimated at $100,000 to $200,000.
The auction also marks the latest installment of Sotheby’s ongoing sale of more than 300 Cartier watches from a single collection that has been featured in its watch auctions in Hong Kong, Geneva and New York.