The Timeless Style of Steve McQueen's Iconic Watch Collection
Steve McQueen currently has 4 watches in his collection. Check them in our database.
Introduction to Steve McQueen
Known as "The King of Cool," Steve McQueen was one of the most iconic actors of the 1960s and 1970s. He starred in classic films like "The Great Escape" and "Bullitt" and was known for his rugged good looks and effortless sense of style. One of the many accessories that helped define McQueen's personal style was his collection of watches. McQueen owned timepieces from some of the most prestigious watch brands in the world, including Cartier, Jaeger LeCoultre, Rolex, and Tag Heuer. Each watch in his collection had its own unique story and significance to the actor. Over the years, many of these watches have become highly sought after by collectors, cementing McQueen's status as a style icon both on and off the big screen.
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.
