What's more classic than a Rolex Submariner? A Rolex Submariner owned by Steve McQueen, that's what - and one that survived a Californian wildfire. Plus, it can now be yours.
Following the record-breaking sale of Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona, British auction house Phillips has recently put Steve McQueen's Submariner ref. 5513 up for grabs. It's not just your usual celebrity timepiece, either.
This particular Submariner was a gift from McQueen to his longtime stuntman Loren Janes in the 70s, with the caseback inscription reading: "To Loren, the best damn stuntman in the world. Steve." Beats a Clintons card.
The personal message isn't the only value-adding feature. Before Janes' death in 2017, the watch was thought to be all but lost in the catastrophic Sand Fire accident, only to be later found in the remnants of the stuntman's home.
From there, the Rolex team carefully restored the Submariner back to its former glory, but you can still find soot within the dial and movement. Wear and tear adds character and all that.
Say the backstory has got your interest piqued: the good news is that you can place a bid at Phillips when it goes up for sale on October 25 of this year. The bad news is that it'll cost you, with McQueen's Submariner expected to fetch between $300,000 and $600,000. Better get saving.
