Steve McQueen, clad in his iconic Gulf-striped racing suit and the legendary Heuer Monaco with its striking blue dial, remains iconic. This December, Sotheby’s will auction one of the very watches Mr. McQueen wore during the filming of the 1971 cult classic Le Mans, making it the crown jewel of the ‘Heuer Champions’ collection, a curated selection of vintage Heuer chronographs celebrating the brand’s illustrious motorsport legacy.
Making its first-ever auction appearance, this historic timepiece is expected to fetch between $500,000 to $1 million at Sotheby’s Important Watches sale on December 11. Remarkably, this will be the first time the watch has been seen by the public in over 50 years since Mr. McQueen wore it on screen.
Introduced in 1969, it was one of the first automatic chronograph wristwatches, launching alongside the innovative Calibre 11. Monaco stood out with its square, water-resistant case, featuring brutalist aesthetics and brushed and polished finishes. Initially, it wasn’t a commercial hit, but its association with Steve McQueen in the movie Le Mans secured its place in popular culture.
When TAG Heuer relaunched the Monaco in 1997, it became a huge success, aided by Mr. McQueen’s iconic image from the film. The Monaco’s latest iteration was launched in 2023.
Unable to participate in motorsport events while filming other movies, Mr. McQueen, a passionate racer, created Solar Productions to film Le Mans, capturing the thrill of endurance racing. He showcased the Porsche 917, the era’s most advanced car, in the film, immortalizing both the car and the Monaco watch.
This watch comes to auction indeed with a rich history, tracing its journey from its production to the present. Originally part of a shipment from the Heuer factory in Switzerland, it was sent to the set of Le Mans at the request of property master Don Nunley.
After filming, the watch was acquired by Bevan Weston, a young mechanic who supported the number 8 Ferrari 512 on set. Mr. Weston, recommended by Derek Bell, who helped train Mr. McQueen to drive the Porsche 917, wore the Monaco watch during his work.
Mr. Weston later joined McLaren and was part of the team for the 1971 Indy 500, where driver Peter Revson secured pole position and finished second. The Monaco remained on Mr. Weston’s wrist throughout his racing career. After 40 years, Mr. Weston sold the watch to a private collector in 2010, who has now decided to auction it.
Before the auction, the watch is being exhibited at Sotheby’s New York from December 5 to 10.
