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The Time+Tide team picks their favourite watch with celebrity provenance

Time+Tide

Inspired by the recent news of a Steve McQueen screen-worn Heuer Monaco heading to auction, we got to thinking: what watch with celebrity provenance would be our favourite? Which one would we chase after with an unlimited budget? So, the Time+Tide Editorial Avengers have assembled to each share their favourite celebrity provenance watches.

Heuer Monaco 1133B Sothebys — The Steve McQueen screen-worn Heuer Monaco 1133B heading to Sotheby’s auction in December. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s.

Buffy’s pick: Elvis Presley’s Hamilton Ventura

Elvis Ventura — Elvis Presley’s Hamilton Ventura in 14k gold. Image courtesy of Julien’s.

The King has had his fair share of the posthumous limelight recently, what with his extravagant biopic from Baz Luhrmann and the less-complimentary portrayal in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla. However, when you shed light on someone, it also illuminates their wrist. Elvis Presley was drawn to opulent displays of wealth, and nothing shows that better than solid gold. The Hamilton Ventura was one of the first-ever electric watches to be released in 1957, and being such a futuristic luxury, it was cased in 14k gold. Its asymmetrical case and sci-fi-esque dial definitely would have appealed to Elvis’ sense of fun. He wore it during the filming of Blue Hawaii from 1961, and was later given to his father Vernon Presley as a gift. The watch itself, accompanied by a letter of authenticity, was sold at a Julien’s auction for US$38,400 in 2015.

Borna’s pick: William Pogue’s Seiko Speedtimer 6139-6005 Pogue

william pogue seiko 6139 6005 heritage auctions — William Pogue’s Skylab-flown Seiko 6139-6005. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

The Seiko 6139 is a significant watch for many reasons. Not only was it one of (if not the) first watches powered by an automatic chronograph movement, it was definitely the first automatic chronograph worn in space. This reference 6139-6005 accompanied Colonel William Pogue to the American space station as part of Skylab 4, hiding in the leg pocket of his suit as it was not technically NASA-approved.

william pogue nasa images — Col. William Pogue double-wristing a Speedmaster and his Seiko 6139 aboard Skylab (L), and posing for a photo during final training for the mission (R). Images courtesy of NASA

Pogue would spend a total of 84 days in space, from November of 1973 to February of 1974, performing several EVAs, but also actually used the watch during training to time engine burns. The watch, purchased in 1972 for just US$71, would stay with him for another three decades, only to eventually be sold through Heritage Auctions in 2008. Had I been a more fiscally responsible 9-year-old, you can bet I would not pass up the chance to buy it, considering it hammered in at a lowly (for its provenance) US$5,975.

Jamie’s pick: Paul Newman’s Paul Newman Rolex Daytona

No celebrity watch comes close to Paul Newman’s very own Cosmograph Daytona ‘Paul Newman’ ref. 6239 – and you can argue that pretty objectively. When the actor and thrill seeker’s personal watch (which features the badass message “Drive Carefully Me” engraved on its caseback) went under the hammer at Phillips back in 2017 for a whopping US$17.8 million after buyer’s fee, it was the most expensive watch ever sold at auction. It’s since been relegated to the third-most expensive (losing out to the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication and Grandmaster Chime ‘Only One’), but it remains the only Rolex in the top 10 and the only celebrity-owned watch.

Rolex Daytona 6239 Paul Newman — Image courtesy of Phillips

That dollar figure alone doesn’t even take into account its cultural impact. Paul Newman almost single-handedly made the Rolex Daytona the legend that it is today, and ‘Paul Newman’ Daytonas are some of the most coveted of all watches. But beyond that, I reckon he’s still probably the coolest man to have ever lived: a true Renaissance man who wasn’t just an amazing actor, stylish gent and accomplished race car driver, he was also a prominent philanthropist, political activist and humanitarian… I’m not one for celebrity worship but if I was ever to wear a watch connected with someone famous, I’d want it to be Paul Newman’s Paul Newman. You literally cannot get any better. I definitely would need an unlimited budget though.

Zach’s pick: Daniel Craig’s film-worn Omega Seamaster 300M NTTD 007 Edition

To have a watch from classic icons like Steve McQueen and Paul Newman would be awesome. To be honest, Jamie may have taken my number one pick off the favourite celebrity provenance watches candidate board. Paul Newman’s or not, that would be my dream Daytona – despite my rant against owning vintage sports watches. A celebrity provenance watch I could safely wear daily, and one that comes fresh off the wrist of a legend of my era, is Daniel Craig’s film-worn Omega Seamaster 300M No Time To Die 007 Edition. Listed with a laughable estimate of £15,000 – £20,000, the watch ultimately hammered off at a Christie’s charity auction in 2022 for £226,800 (£226,799 more than I could afford to spend on a watch at that time).

Akin to how McQueen’s Le Mans set was sent six watches, Craig undoubtedly sported multiple Seamasters throughout the film that concluded his tenure as James Bond. This element, however, is what makes the watch so cool in my mind. In watch collecting, you want either the first or last of a limited edition. So, to own a Seamaster he put through its paces during stunts in his final Bond film is simply historic. He is my favourite Bond actor, and I have long considered actually buying the No Time to Die Seamaster from Omega. With or without celebrity provenance, it’s a fantastic Omega Seamaster reference – I would just need to order it on the short-sized mesh bracelet. A watch I like from the Bond I most respect. Now all I need is six figures or more in expendable savings…