Steve McQueen Le Mans Heuer Watch for Sale

Passport1

Passport1

Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
4,168
Location
A Barrier Island
A watch with a certified racing history. McQueen was real racing enthusiast and a serious actor. The movie is worth watching even if just for the Porsche 917/Ferrari 512 dueling. The cars are in their correct competition liveries. There is scant dialog in this film to detract from the racing milieu.

You might buy this historic piece of racing horology for $1 million.

https://www.marketwatch.com/article...up-to-us-1-million-d3b52023?mod=mw_latestnews
 
I was not expecting a square watch. The Pop Art movement reached a rich toy circuit with that one.
The stainless steel straps mentioned in the article might click better with the pronounced bezel.
The leather, being original, ain't bad, but the face + bezel steal the show and call the tune.
Cool provenance in what had to be a limited run. Anybody know?
 
Passport1 said:
A watch with a certified racing history. McQueen was real racing enthusiast and a serious actor. The movie is worth watching even if just for the Porsche 917/Ferrari 512 dueling. The cars are in their correct competition liveries. There is scant dialog in this film to detract from the racing milieu.

You might buy this historic piece of racing horology for $1 million.

https://www.marketwatch.com/article...up-to-us-1-million-d3b52023?mod=mw_latestnews
Click to expand...
Isn't it now Tag Heuer? Were there two watch makers that merged?
 
I remember Paul Newman ( similar provenance ) having a Rolex Daytona. Don’t know if it was ever sold but I’m sure it’s worth a fortune either way! Both McQueen and Newman were the epitome of cool. :cool:
 
gman2304 said:
I remember Paul Newman ( similar provenance ) having a Rolex Daytona. Don’t know if it was ever sold but I’m sure it’s worth a fortune either way! Both McQueen and Newman were the epitome of cool. :cool:
Click to expand...
I swear the Newman Daytona went deep in six figures somewhat recently.
 
Kira said:
I was not expecting a square watch. The Pop Art movement reached a rich toy circuit with that one.
The stainless steel straps mentioned in the article might click better with the pronounced bezel.
The leather, being original, ain't bad, but the face + bezel steal the show and call the tune.
Cool provenance in what had to be a limited run. Anybody know?
Click to expand...
Article said there were 6 commissioned by the film.
 
Torrid said:
I think TAG was a design house. I don't know if they even did watches at the time.
Click to expand...

TAG acquired Heuer in the 1980s.

TAG wasn't a design house. TAG began as a holding company for the interests of Syrian businessman Akram Ojjeh. Historically, they acted as kind of a middleman in project, usually involving the Saudi government. They were involved in operations of middle eastern airports, subcontracting the work to other companies, as well as backing Formula 1 teams in branding deals (the current TAG Holding group still owns significant shares in McLaren).

TAG Heuer, the watch company, was sold outright to LVMH and is no longer part of the TAG portfolio.
 
MrHorspwer said:
TAG acquired Heuer in the 1980s.

TAG wasn't a design house. TAG began as a holding company for the interests of Syrian businessman Akram Ojjeh. Historically, they acted as kind of a middleman in project, usually involving the Saudi government. They were involved in operations of middle eastern airports, subcontracting the work to other companies, as well as backing Formula 1 teams in branding deals (the current TAG Holding group still owns significant shares in McLaren).

TAG Heuer, the watch company, was sold outright to LVMH and is no longer part of the TAG portfolio.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info. I didn't know much of their history.

MrHorspwer said:
Eight-figures.

$17.8 million is what Newman's personal 6239 Daytona sold for in 2017.
Click to expand...
Oh I didn't remember that one too well! I do remember that it did auction, but I also vaguely remember the earlier "Newman" Daytonas going for about $250k without actually landing on his wrist just a few years ago. I've not played in the big watch numbers ever, but lately I've just went nuts with G-Shocks. I haven't even had an Omega in about 10 years. I love watches, but I just haven't justified the true luxury manufacturers in a while. I'm sure Omega barely qualifies with current pricing.
 
MrHorspwer said:
TAG acquired Heuer in the 1980s.

TAG wasn't a design house. TAG began as a holding company for the interests of Syrian businessman Akram Ojjeh. Historically, they acted as kind of a middleman in project, usually involving the Saudi government. They were involved in operations of middle eastern airports, subcontracting the work to other companies, as well as backing Formula 1 teams in branding deals (the current TAG Holding group still owns significant shares in McLaren).

TAG Heuer, the watch company, was sold outright to LVMH and is no longer part of the TAG portfolio.
Click to expand...

The Bahraini sovereign wealth fund purchased what shares it didn't own in McLaren this year, so they own the whole cow now.

Throughout the years, Ron Dennis and Mansour Ojjeh (son of TAG founder) were the largest shareholders, with Daimler, and other minority shareholders along the way. Dennis sold out to Ojjeh and the Bahrainis after he lost a power struggle and got the boot, and Ojjeh died a few years ago.

To raise funds, the MTC campus was sold to a REIT, and leased back, a few years ago, so they don't even own the Foster-designed building and adjoining assembly plant any longer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom