Steve McQueen’s famous Tag Heuer Monaco watch, the one he wore in the ‘Le Mans’ film, has sold for nearly $800,000 at an auction of film memorabilia in Los Angeles.
The American film star, who went on to run his own successful racing team in US, famously wore the timepiece in the 1971 film which was set in Monaco.
The Tag Heuer Monaco has a black alligator skin strap and a stylish retro 60s style blue face. It was the first ever automatic and square-cased chronograph watch.
The star wearing the wristwatch helped the brand to become a favourite of motor racing drivers and fans around the world.
Auctioneers had been expecting it to fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars but the sale surpassed expectations when the hammer came down at a staggering $799,500: that’s the equivalent of around £515,000.
McQueen starred in Le Mans eight years after his most famous movie, The Great Escape.
But he was arguably at the height of his fame and appeal when he appeared in the motorsport film.
It is considered by some fans to be one of the greatest motorsports films of all time for its portrayal of the iconic 24 hours race around the streets of Le Mans in Monaco, France.
Tag Heuer was founded in 1860 but after McQueen wore the watch in the film the brand became even more popular among motor sports fans and drivers.
The watch is one of several automatic Heuer chronographs that run on the Caliber 11 series of movements.
They were introduced in 1969 as a series of wrist watches made in honour of the Monaco Grand Prix.
About Jim McGill
Jim McGill is an award-winning motoring and motorsport journalist with more than 25 years' industry experience. He contributes to a number of newspapers and magazines, including The Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Scotsman, Sunday Herald and AA Magazine.
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