Steve McQueen's Watches: The Submariner, the Monaco and the Myths
Steve McQueen is linked to more watches than almost anyone, and the links are not equally strong. One famous watch, the Heuer Monaco from Le Mans, was a prop. His own watch, as far as the record shows, was a Rolex Submariner . This guide separates the two, grades each watch by how well it is documented, and says plainly where sources conflict or where we found nothing.
The short answer
The best-documented watches are the Heuer Monaco 1133B , which is a confirmed prop and not his personal watch, and the Rolex Submariner 5512 , reported as his own and tied to an Antiquorum sale in 2009 at $234,000. The “To Loren” Submariner 5513 is contested: its 2018 Phillips sale was withdrawn. The Rolex Explorer II 1655 “Steve McQueen” name is a trade nickname, and we found no evidence he owned or wore one. We found no source linking him to a Daytona.
Who wears what: quick reference
| Character (actor) | Watches |
|---|---|
| The prop: Heuer Monaco(On screen) | Heuer Monaco (steel, blue dial) |
| His own watches: Rolex Submariner(Off screen) | Rolex Submariner (personal watch; the Antiquorum example); Rolex Submariner (gift to stuntman Loren Janes, “To Loren”) |
| Other watches in the record(Photographs and film wear) | Hanhart 417 ES chronograph (on a Bund strap); Benrus Series 3061 (Bullitt, 1968); Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox; Rolex Speedking; Gruen Precision |
How we label the evidence
Confirmed means a costume designer, prop department, the brand or the show itself said so, or multiple reputable outlets agree and cite a source. Reported means a single reputable outlet or database reports it. Community-identified means fans identified it from screenshots in a cited community thread, which we flag as unverified. We leave out other fan speculation, and where sources disagree we say so. All prices are in US dollars and are indicative; check current listings before buying.
The prop: Heuer Monaco (On screen)
The Monaco is the watch most people picture, but it belongs to the film rather than to the man. Property master Don Nunley is on record about supplying it for Le Mans (1971), and McQueen was a Heuer-sponsored figure at the time. The Rake states plainly that it was not his personal watch.
| Watch | Reference | Evidence | Where it's documented | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heuer Monaco (steel, blue dial) | 1133B | Confirmed | Worn by his character in Le Mans (1971) as a prop. Heuer's invoice lists six; one 2026 source says seven, so the count is disputed | Auction: $2,208,000 (Phillips, December 12, 2020); about $1.4M (Sotheby's, December 2024); $640,000 hammer (Sotheby's, June 2026, single source, provisional) |
The $2,208,000 watch was the one McQueen gave to his mechanic Haig Alltounian, and it set a record for a Heuer at auction. For the full count, the sales and the film itself, see our Le Mans watches guide. For context, a current TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 is listed at $8,600 (Watches of Switzerland, October 11, 2026).
His own watches: Rolex Submariner (Off screen)
The Submariner is the watch most credibly his own. It was photographed on his wrist at the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring (March 21, 1970, Getty caption), at home, and in several films. We cannot say which individual watch is in which photograph.
| Watch | Reference | Evidence | Where it's documented | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolex Submariner (personal watch; the Antiquorum example) | 5512 (listed “5512/5513”) | Reported | Reference confirmed by Jake Ehrlich per The Rake, a single outlet citing Getty captions. Cited in Le Mans (1971), Papillon (1973 set photo), The Towering Inferno (1974) and The Hunter (1980). Whether the Antiquorum watch is the one in photos is unconfirmed; one account says its dial may have been replaced (search summary only) | Antiquorum, New York, June 11, 2009, Lot 416: estimate $10,000 to $20,000, sold $234,000 including premium |
| Rolex Submariner (gift to stuntman Loren Janes, “To Loren”) | 5513 (dial 5512; sources conflict) | Uncertain | Caseback reads “LOREN, THE BEST DAMN STUNTMAN IN THE WORLD. STEVE.” Phillips pulled it from its October 25, 2018 sale after the McQueen family disputed provenance. Gift date and dial are contested | Never sold. Phillips estimate was $300,000 to $600,000 |
The Antiquorum lot page says McQueen gave the watch to collector Jimmy Brucker in 1977, asked for it back, and gave it to him again in spring 1980. It came with a Brucker letter of authenticity only. That is the auction house's own provenance claim, not independent proof. Chad McQueen is reported to own two Submariners given by his father. See the Rolex Submariner history.
Other watches in the record (Photographs and film wear)
Beyond the Rolex, the evidence thins. These watches appear in photographs, captions or single-outlet lists, and none has a price we can verify.
| Watch | Reference | Evidence | Where it's documented | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanhart 417 ES chronograph (on a Bund strap) | 417 ES (believed) | Reported | The Rake: seen in a 1963 LIFE shoot in Palm Springs and at the 1964 International Six Days Trial in East Germany. How he got it and what became of it is unknown. InsideHook says only 500 were made, which we have not verified | No usable price found |
| Benrus Series 3061 (Bullitt, 1968) | 3061 | Community-identified | Identified by online fans after decades unidentified, and now endorsed by Benrus on its own page. Because the brand benefits, we treat the identification as community-origin | 2025 reissue: $1,895 to $1,995 (Benrus, October 13, 2026) |
| Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox | Not identified | Reported | Worn during Boston filming of The Thomas Crown Affair (August 1967 Getty caption); The Rake says he owned it for a long time. Model unknown | No usable price found |
| Rolex Speedking; Gruen Precision | Not identified | Reported | Speedking in The Great Escape (1963); Gruen in The Getaway (1972). One outlet each (InsideHook) | InsideHook shows a $4,635 Speedking listing, which is not a sale record |
A gold pocket watch from his great-uncle Claude, inscribed “To Steve, who has been a son to me,” is cited by Wikipedia from McQueen's own recollection. Not his: The Rake says the Patek Philippe pocket watch and Cartier Tank Cintree in The Thomas Crown Affair were not his, though a separate Rake article lists “a Cartier Tank” among his watches, so that point is uncertain.
Context, sales and what we could not find
Prop versus personal. Le Mans (1971) is where the two stories meet. The Monaco is the screen watch. His Submariner, per Nunley, was on set, but it is not a screen watch. Keeping them apart explains why “McQueen's watch” can mean two very different objects with very different auction records.
The Antiquorum sale. Lot 416 in 2009 was then a record for the reference at $234,000. The catalogue listed it as “5512/5513,” and similar 5512 versus 5513 confusion appears in Wikipedia and Phillips captions, so treat reference claims with care.
The Loren Janes watch. Phillips said it remained confident McQueen gave the watch to Janes, but that “without the McQueen family's support we are unable to proceed.” Revolution places the gift in 1966 on the Sand Pebbles set, while Time+Tide and the Janes letter point to the mid-to-late 1970s. Revolution also reports that an item in the provenance docket was a 2013 mock-up by Ehrlich, and that Stan Barrett noted films in Janes's letter in which Janes did not appear. We report these as claims, not findings. The watch survived the 2016 Sand Fire, per InsideHook.
Brand tie-ins. TAG Heuer has promoted the Monaco with his image, and Benrus sells a 3061 reissue tied to Bullitt. Rolex has not named any watch after him. See our guides to TAG Heuer and Rolex. For other famous wrists, see the famous people watches hub.
Gaps. We could not read several key pieces (Hodinkee, the Fratello article on the 5512, Worn and Wound, Monochrome) and found no usable current market price for the 5512, the Explorer II 1655 or the Hanhart. Loupe.watch price pages were deliberately not used because of their terms.
Get the look for less
Current watches that echo the ones above, with indicative US prices. These are editorial suggestions, not his watches.
| Watch | Why it fits | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|
| TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Calibre 11, blue dial | Modern descendant of the Le Mans prop, though not the same watch | $8,600 (Watches of Switzerland, October 11, 2026) |
| Benrus Series 3061 reissue (39.5 mm, ETA 2892) | Reissue of the field watch tied to Bullitt | $1,895 to $1,995 (Benrus, October 13, 2026) |
Myths and mix-ups, corrected
- “The Explorer II 1655 is the Steve McQueen watch.” We found no evidence he owned or wore one. The dealer Analog/Shift says that, to the best of anyone's knowledge, he did not, and blames an early-internet mix-up. The Rake agrees, and Wikipedia says the name is used by collectors while he preferred the Submariner. The origin of the nickname is not documented. It persists in the trade.
- “He wore a Rolex Daytona.” We found no source linking him to a Daytona. The famous Daytona is Paul Newman's.
- “The Monaco was his personal watch.” It was a prop for Le Mans. His own watch was the Submariner.
- “The Antiquorum watch is a 5512 or a 5513.” Both appear. The lot was listed as “5512/5513,” and Wikipedia and Phillips captions also blur the two.
- “The ‘To Loren’ Submariner sold at Phillips.” It never sold. The 2018 sale was withdrawn after a provenance dispute.
Sources
The Rake (including Wei Koh on the Hanhart 417 ES); the Antiquorum Lot 416 catalogue page and Europa Star; Phillips and Sotheby's sale coverage via La Cote des Montres and JustCollecting; National Jeweler, InsideHook, Time+Tide and Revolution on the Loren Janes watch; Quill & Pad interview with Don Nunley; Benrus; Analog/Shift; Wikipedia. Prices are in US dollars and carry their sale dates. Evidence labels follow the definitions above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What watch did Steve McQueen wear?
His personal watch is reported to have been a Rolex Submariner 5512, photographed at the 1970 Sebring 12 Hours and in several films. The Heuer Monaco was a prop.
Was the Heuer Monaco Steve McQueen's own watch?
No. It was a prop for Le Mans (1971), confirmed by property master Don Nunley. His own watch was the Submariner.
How much did Steve McQueen's Rolex Submariner sell for?
A Submariner linked to him sold at Antiquorum in New York on June 11, 2009 for $234,000 including premium (Lot 416).
Did Steve McQueen wear the Rolex Explorer II 1655?
We found no evidence he did. The “Steve McQueen” name is a collector and dealer nickname, and the origin is not documented.
What happened to the “To Loren” Submariner?
Phillips withdrew it from its 2018 sale after the McQueen family disputed its provenance. It has never sold.
Did Steve McQueen wear a Daytona?
We found no source linking him to one.
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