Steve McQueen’s Rolex Submariner
While this isn’t the first McQueen watch up for auction, this might be the best yet.
AfterĀ last year’s epic sale of Paul Newman’s Daytona that fired up aĀ Daytona feverĀ after, Phillips announced on 4 JuneĀ an upcoming sale ofĀ yet another icon’s iconic Rolex ā the Steve McQueen Rolex Submariner reference 5513.
Bought by McQueen inĀ the 1960s, this reference 5513 Rolex Submariner wasĀ gifted to his stuntman and longtime friend, Loren Janes, in the late ’70s.
Since their first work together in 1958, Steve McQueen and Janes went on to collaborate in more than a dozen movies, including Bullitt, The Getaway, and The Thomas Crown Affair.
The caseback of the watch still bears theĀ engraving that captures the precious friendship between the duo: LOREN, THE BEST DAMN STUNTMAN IN THE WORLD. STEVE.
Janes kept theĀ watch by his side, until the Sand Fire wildfire that ripped through parts of Los Angeles in 2016 engulfed Janes’ home. Fortunately, it was recovered from the rubble and restored by Rolex U.S.A. While details of the service work isn’t certain,Ā the case has beenĀ refurbished andĀ aĀ replacedĀ period-correct dial.
TheĀ Submariner watchĀ will be auctioned off in New York on October 25. It arrives with an additional, period correct reference 5513 dial and hand set, along with 2 letters. The first is a letter signed by Loren Janes attesting to its provenance, a second letter from Rolex, and a copy of Steve McQueen: A Life in Pictures, which includes photos of the watch on the wrist of the legendary actor.
The Steve McQueen Rolex SubmarinerĀ was purchased from the Janes family by Hollywood memorabilia collector and Beverly Hills Real Estate broker, Michael Eisenberg (whom also participated in the bid forĀ Paul Newman’s Daytona), who has consigned the watch to Phillips for the October auction in New York. The Submariner timepiece is expected to fetch forĀ a price betweenĀ $300,000 to $600,000.
Steve McQueen’sĀ Heuer Monaco watches are known for aĀ well to do track record at auctions. However,Ā McQueen hasĀ ownedĀ dozens of watches in his lifetime, resulting inĀ aĀ constant debate over which timepiecesĀ were really worn personally by the star himself. WhileĀ there are someĀ photographsĀ of McQueen wearing what appears to be a two-line-dial Submariner that’s identifiable with thisĀ reference 5513 model,Ā the provenance is not as direct as other celebrity pieces such as Elvis’ Omega. It will be interesting to witness how high theĀ big will go for this timepiece.
Bid now for theĀ Steve McQueen RolexĀ Submariner on PhillipsĀ here.