Steve McQueen Watch Collection - Every Watch He's Been Spotted Wearing
Steve McQueen currently has 5 watches in his collection. Check them in our database.
Introduction to Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen was an American actor and racing driver who became one of Hollywood's most recognizable leading men during the 1960s and 1970s. Known for his roles in films including Bullitt, The Great Escape, and The Thomas Crown Affair, McQueen developed a reputation as an unconventional star who pursued his genuine interests rather than following industry conventions. His passion for motorsport and mechanical engineering informed his approach to both film roles and personal style, including his selection of wristwatches.
The Steve McQueen watch collection reflects a preference for functional, well-engineered timepieces over status symbols. Jaeger-LeCoultre emerged as his favored brand, with the actor frequently wearing the Memovox model, including the E857 with cream dial and black leather strap, and the Memovox Jumbo reference 5103592 in 10K yellow gold, visible in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968). These practical alarm watches aligned with his preference for utility-focused design.
McQueen's broader horological taste encompassed other accomplished manufacturers. He wore a Rolex gilt dial Submariner 5512 from the 1960s, a robust sports watch suited to both daily wear and diving. For formal occasions, he selected a Cartier Tank Cintrée in yellow gold (reference 21612), demonstrating versatility across dress and tool watches. During the 1971 racing film Le Mans, McQueen wore a Heuer Monaco reference 1133 steel chronograph, a choice reflecting his active engagement with motorsport and his appreciation for chronographs designed for professional use rather than display.
Steve McQueen Spotted Wearing Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox — The Mechanical Alarm Watch of Hollywood's King of Cool
Inserted 22/08/2026
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The Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox E857 is a dual-crown mechanical alarm watch introduced in the 1950s, featuring a manually wound movement with dedicated alarm mechanism and distinctive cream dial. Its second crown and specialized calibre made independent alarm-setting possible without interfering with timekeeping. Steve McQueen wore this timepiece during Le Mans filming breaks, cementing its status among vintage watch enthusiasts seeking authentic mid-century tool watches.
The Iconic Rolex Gilt Dial Submariner 5512: Steve McQueen's Vintage Treasure
Inserted 30/04/2023
Steve McQueen, the legendary actor and motorsport enthusiast, was known for his exquisite taste in watches and cars. His Rolex collection was just as impressive, and one of his most treasured timepieces was the Rolex Gilt Dial Submariner 5512 from the 60s. This vintage diving watch features a glossy black dial with gold lettering, earning it the moniker "gilt dial". The Submariner 5512 was one of the first Rolex watches to incorporate a crown-guard, providing enhanced water resistance and durability. McQueen's exact Submariner 5512 was sold at auction for a record-breaking $234,000 in 2009, cementing its status as a valuable collector's item. The watch has since become an iconic symbol of McQueen's timeless style and passion for adventure. Its classic design and historical significance make it a must-have for any vintage Rolex enthusiast.
Steve McQueen Spotted Wearing Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox Jumbo Ref. 5103592
Inserted 30/12/2022
The Memovox Jumbo ref. 5103592 houses Calibre K825, one of the first automatic alarm movements ever produced — a genuine horological milestone dressed here in 10K yellow gold on a leather strap. McQueen wore it not on his wrist in real life, but as Thomas Crown, the ice-cool Boston financier of the 1968 heist classic. The detail underlines how seriously the film's costume department approached authenticity: even a supporting wrist choice carried genuine mechanical credibility.
Steve McQueen Spotted Wearing a Yellow Gold Cartier Tank Cintrée Ref. 21612
Inserted 03/12/2022
The Cartier Tank Cintrée is one of the most architecturally daring variations of the Tank family, its elongated, curved case designed to follow the contour of the wrist — a feat of art deco engineering first introduced in 1921. Steve McQueen wore the yellow gold Ref. 21612 on screen in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), playing a suave Boston billionaire — a role that demanded exactly this kind of quietly authoritative elegance. On McQueen's wrist, the Cintrée looked less like a costume prop and more like a personal statement.
Steve McQueen Spotted Wearing Heuer Monaco Ref. 1133
Inserted 03/12/2022
The Heuer Monaco ref. 1133 was the world's first automatic, water-resistant square-case chronograph when it launched in 1969 — a technical provocation wearing its movement crown on the left side. McQueen wore it throughout the 1971 racing film Le Mans, cementing a pop-culture bond that transformed an already-bold watch into an icon. One of the six actual production pieces used on set later sold at auction for a record sum, making the ref. 1133 the most expensive Heuer ever to cross the block.
