Antiquorum’s successful summer auction in New York, which included watches and memorabilia from the late legendary actor Steve McQueen, totaled an impressive $5,706,324. Bids came in from across 
globe including from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, France and Romania.
A strong 81% of the 416 timepieces were sold by lot and 122% sold by value. In addition to the scores of telephone, room, and commission bidders, there were 478 bidders on the internet competing for the highly collectible timepieces offered in the sale.
Steve McQueen’s timepieces and motorcycle inspired frantic bidding in the Antiquorum auction room today. After several minutes of heated competition, the winning bid for the “King of Cool’s” Rolex Ref. 5512 was an impressive $ 234,000; twenty times its estimate and a world record for that reference. In addition, McQueen’s Scott Super Squirrel motorcycle, painted by Von Dutch, fetched an astounding $ 276,000—double its estimate. Furthermore, The Heuer Monaco that he wore in the 1971 racing film ” Le Mans” sold for a world record $87,600.
“Today’s auction is a clear confirmation that in the current market, collectors are looking for exceptional horological rarities with noteworthy provenance such as Steve McQueen’s Rolex Ref. 5512 and his Heuer “Monaco”. The mania that we saw in the auction room today was reflective of the desire collectors have for interesting watches that truly stand the test of time and make sound investments for the future,” said Evan Zimmermann, President & CEO, Antiquorum.
Patek Philippe also attained excellent results: lot 120, the rose gold Ref. 5004 sold for $252,000 and lot 299, the pink gold Ref. 5970 obtained a noteworthy price of $132,000. Also achieving significant results was the Patek “Limited Edition Annual Calendar with Silicon Escape Wheel”, Ref. 5250G, lot 298, bringing a record $138,000. Other remarkable prices attained by Patek Philippe were lot 410, the Platinum Ref.3970 selling for $ 144,000; while lot 184, the “Yellow Gold Ref. 2526” sold for an incredible $ 60,000.
“The extraordinary outcome for our June auction once again confirms that Antiquorum is indisputably the world’s leading auction house for timepieces as evidenced by the exceptional participation in today’s sale. As other markets rebound from the past year’s economic decline, the demand for exceptional timepieces continues to steadily increase,” said Robert Maron, Chairman Antiquorum.
In addition, Rolex watches faired extremely well in the June sale. The “Double Red Sea Dweller, Retailed by Cartier,” lot 382, sold for an amazing $91,200. In addition, Daytona’s once again dominate the collectors market with the Ref. 6239 Stainless Steel Paul Newman attaining $84,000 and the Pro-Hunter Black-Carbon Daytona selling for $42,000.
“We are very encouraged by the result we see here today for our June auction, said Julien Schaerer,” Watch Director & Auctioneer, Antiquorum USA.” We are particularly delighted to see the resurgence of prices for rare Rolex sports models as well as for limited edition Patek Philippe timepieces .”
Moreover, other high-grade luxury watches also obtained terrific results as evidenced by the Lange & Sohne “Pour Le Merite” which attained $156,000 today, as well as the Jaeger Le Coultre “Platinum Master Minute Repeater” which sold for an incredible $126,000.
The “Top Lots” for Antiquorum’s June 11th auction are as follows:
Lot 414
Steve McQueen’s Motorcycle restored and painted by Von Dutch 1929 Scott 596cc Super Squirrel [Engine no. Y2373A]
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 276,000
Lot 120
Pink Gold Ref. 5004 Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 5004R. Sold March 2nd, 2004. Extremely fine, rare and important, astronomic, water-resistant, 18K pink gold wristwatch with coaxial round button split-seconds chronograph, registers, perpetual calendar and moon phases
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 252,000
Lot 416
Steve Mc Queen’s Rolex Ref. 5512, Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Submariner, 660 ft = 200 m, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, Ref. 5512/5513. Made in 1967. Fine, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver’s wristwatch.
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 234,000
Lot 235
Pour le Mérite A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I/SA., Tourbillon “Pour le Mérite, Ref. 701.001. Made in a limited edition of 150 pieces in 1996. Extremely fine and very rare, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator and 36-hour power reserve.
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 156,000
Lot 234
Lange 1 Tourbillon A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte i./Sa., “Lange 1 Tourbillon. Made in a limited edition of 150 pieces in 2000. Extremely fine and rare platinum wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, off-center hour dial, oversized date, power reserve indication.
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 144,000
Lot 410
Platinum Ref. 3970EP Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 3970EP. Sold March 17th, 2004. Very fine and important, water-resistant, platinum wristwatch with round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year and 24-hour indication
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 144,000
Lot 298
Ref. 5250G, Limited Edition Annual Calendar with Silicon Escape Wheel Patek Philippe, Genève, “Patek Philippe Advanced Research– Silicon Escape Wheel,” Ref. 5250G. Made in a limited edition of 100 pieces in 2005, sold on October 30th, 2006. Very fine, rare and innovative, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K white gold wristwatch with annual calendar, power-reserve indication, moon phases and silicon escape wheel.
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 138,000
Lot 299
Pink Gold Ref. 5970 Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 5970R. Made in 2006, sold June 7th, 2007. Very fine, astronomic, water-resistant, 18K pink gold wristwatch with square button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases and tachometer.
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 132,000
Lot 69
Platinum Master Minute Repeater Jaeger-LeCoultre, “Master Minute Repeater Antoine LeCoultre,” Ref. 151.6.67.S. Made in a limited edition of 200 pieces in 2006, sold December 28th, 2007. Very fine and rare, oversized, minute-repeating, water-resistant, platinum wristwatch with 15-day power reserve and spring torque indication.
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 126,000
Lot 382
Double-Red Tropical Dial Retailed by Cartier Sea-Dweller Submariner Mark II Rolex, “Oyster Perpetual Date, Sea- Dweller, Submariner 2000, 2000 ft./610 m., Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified,” Ref. 1665. Made in 1967. Fine and very rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver’s wristwatch with double red Sea-Dweller logo, helium escape valve and date.
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 91,200
Lot 386
Ref. 6239 Stainless Steel “Paul Newman” Rolex, “Oyster Cosmograph Daytona” Ref. 6239. Made circa 1962. Very fine and rare, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer and steel bezel.
Sold including buyer’s premium: $ 84,000
Antiquorum’s final auction of the season will take place on June 27th in Hong Kong. For more information, visit www.antiquorum.com.
[Source: Antiquorum]
I heard a toothpic owned by McQueen went for 10 Grand.
I’d call that “well bought!”