The Heuer Reference 1133B Monaco, a stainless steel square automatic chronograph with date, circa 1969, owned and screen worn by actor and professional racer, Steve McQueen, in the 1971 movie Le Mans, fetched $1.4 million, topping its $1 million high estimate and becoming the second highest price achieved for a Heuer timepiece at auction.
It was one of 38 Heuer timepieces in Sotheby’s sale of Important Watches held Friday, under the banner, “Heuer Champions,” honoring the brand’s legacy in motorsport. A total of 92% of the Heuer pieces sold achieving $2 million.
Another highlight of the auction was the sale of several Rolex watches of important provenance, led by a 1963 Rolex reference 1803 day-date once belonging to the second president of Egypt, Gamal Abdel Nasser. Amid six minutes of bidding the watch soared to its final price of $840,000, totally smashing its $60,000 high estimate. The timepiece was a gift from Nasser’s lifelong friend Anwar El Sadat, who succeeded Nasser as Egypt’s third president. It was offered at auction for the first time by Nasser’s grandson. The watch features an inscription in Arabic on its reverse, reading: “Mr. Anwar El Sadat 26-9-1963,” marking the bond between the two leaders and friends.
A Rolex reference 6238 transitional Daytona “John Player Special,” with black and champagne exotic “Paul Newman” dial, circa 1968, fetched $768,000. Sotheby’s said the watch was a “surprise discovery” found in a flowerpot of the consignor’s New York home.
Two Rolex watches from the collection of Emmy award-winning cinematographer and co-producer of the film, “Titanic,” Alfred “Al” Giddings attracted spirited bidding, according to the auction house. The 1680/8 “Nipple Dial” Submariner worn by Bill Paxton in the 1997 blockbuster achieved $264,000, four times its $60,000 high estimate Giddings’ 1680 “Red” Submariner worn on more than a dozen dives to the Titanic wreckage fetched $54,000, besting its high estimate.
Three Patek Philippe watches were among the top lots of the sale. They were:
A Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5723/112R-001, circa 2018, achieved $900,000, topping its high estimate of $800,000. The watch featured a baguette-cut ruby-set bezel with a “chocolate” dial. The dial also contains the much sought-after double signature from Patek Philippe and the Tiffany & Co. Sotheby’s said it was one of two examples that have ever been brought to market.
A Patek Philippe Reference 5208P grand complication fetched $780,000. The 42mm platinum case houses an anthracite dial that displays an automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar, mono-pusher chronograph, moon phases, leap year and day-night indication. All these complications are powered by the caliber R CH 27 PS QI automatic movement with 701 components, including 63 jewels.
A yellow gold, Patek Philippe Reference 1518, with perpetual calendar realized $456,000.
In addition, a Cartier mystery clock, circa 1921 with yellow gold, platinum, enamel, rock crystal, diamond and turquoise-set single axle sold for $408,000.
Sotheby’s sale of Important Watches totaled $16.6 million, with “enthusiastic bidding in the room, on the telephone and online,” the auction house said. Nearly 1,000 collectors from 55 countries registered to participate in the auction. The auction house further said that more than 30% of the participants were under the age of 40.
Article by: Anthony DeMarco. Forbes
