Steve McQueen's Heuer watch sees 166.5% increase in Hollywood

 

The beautiful Heuer Monaco worn by Steve McQueen in 1971's Le Mans has sold with dramatic results, boosted by bids from movie memorabilia, racing and watch collectors.

The July 31 auction in Hollywood saw the watch achieve a 166.5% increase on its $300,000 high estimate, selling for $799,500. The impressive increase in value can be attributed to the fact that all models of the watch are universally known as "The McQueen", after it played a large role in the Le Mans film in which he starred.

In 1970, Jack Heuer himself delivered a variety of chronograph watches to Donald Nunley, the prop master on the set of Le Mans in France. Steve McQueen personally selected the Heuer Monaco at auction to be used in both production and publicity photos, and even continued to wear it after filming. An exquisite watch, a unique piece of racing history and a great item of movie memorabilia, it was met with much excitement in the collecting world.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a beautiful Longines Olympic Series men's watch on offer. It doesn't come with any racing pedigree, but it will make an excellent addition to your collection.

Steve McQueen Heuer Watch Le Mans
Another of McQueen's watches sold for $234,000 in 2009


The racing overalls worn by McQueen in the film sold for $984,000 last year.

Following the watch was a 1/12th scale model of the drop-ship used in the production of James Cameron's Aliens in 1986. Featuring activating weapons pods, it is one of two models created for the film and came complete with battle scars from eight months of daily filming. It sold for $276,250 against a $120,000 high estimate - an impressive 130.2% increase.

Also featuring was an original proton pack from the Ghostbusters movie, which almost doubled its pre-sale estimate of $60,000-80,000, achieving a 99.8% increase at $159,900.

See our complete movie memorabilia selection here.

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