Steve McQueen's Heuer Monaco from 'Le Mans' Heads to Auction

A vintage Heuer Monaco worn by Steve McQueen during the filming of the 1971 film 'Le Mans' will be auctioned at Sotheby's Important Watches Auction in New York on June 15. The watch, estimated at $500,000 to $1 million, is one of seven blue-dial Monacos acquired by property master Don Nunley directly from Jack Heuer, then-CEO of Heuer, for use on set. According to an affidavit by Nunley, this is the watch McQueen wore most frequently. The stainless-steel piece shows signs of wear, including a ding on the case and dirt on the crystal, consistent with use during high-speed driving. It comes with a trove of nearly 500 documents, including the original invoice and import documents for the watches sent to the set. The Monaco was initially a slow seller after its 1969 debut and was discontinued by the end of the 1970s, but was relaunched by TAG Heuer in 1997 due to renewed interest. Sotheby's global head of watches Geoff Hess described the provenance as unparalleled, noting the watch's appeal extends beyond watch collectors to fans of McQueen, Hollywood memorabilia, and motorsports.