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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSteve McQueen is most closely associated with the Heuer Monaco reference 1133B he wore while filming Le Mans. But it was not the only watch linked to him: Sotheby’s also documents his ownership of a Rolex Submariner reference 5512 and a photograph of him wearing it between scenes. The evidence supports two distinct stories, not a complete inventory of McQueen’s watches.
Which watch did Steve McQueen wear in Le Mans?
The best-supported screen association is the Heuer Monaco 1133B: a square-cased chronograph with a blue dial that became part of Le Mans’ visual identity. TAG Heuer’s vintage history identifies the 1133B as the model McQueen wore for the film. The modern TAG Heuer Monaco collection continues the design lineage, but a contemporary Monaco is not the original vintage 1133B worn during production. TAG Heuer’s vintage Monaco history distinguishes the historical reference from today’s collection.
According to TAG Heuer, the Monaco was first released in Geneva on March 3, 1969. The company describes it as the first water-resistant square-faced automatic chronograph; that priority claim is TAG Heuer’s characterization. Its historical account dates the 1133 reference family to 1969–1975 and says the family used Calibre 11 or Calibre 12 automatic movements. The 1133B is the blue-dial version, with a flat midnight-blue dial, white registers and red-tipped hands. TAG Heuer’s vintage collection page provides the brand’s account of the reference and its design.
How securely can a surviving Monaco be tied to the film?
Several 1133B watches were involved in the production, so identifying a particular surviving watch requires provenance rather than resemblance alone. Sotheby’s 2024 catalogue says six reference 1133B models were supplied for McQueen’s use and as backups. It recounts that two were given away after production—one to business manager Bill Maher and another to mechanic Haig Altounian—and that another eventually entered the TAG Heuer Museum. TAG Heuer also recounts the gift to Altounian, describing an inscription reading “To Haig Le Mans 1970” and saying he kept the watch in a safety deposit box. These are accounts from the brand and auction catalogue. Sotheby’s 2024 catalogue entry and TAG Heuer’s history tell the related provenance stories.
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What Rolex did Steve McQueen wear?
Sotheby’s identifies a Rolex Submariner reference 5512 as a watch with documentation of McQueen’s prior ownership. Its listing summary also says he was photographed wearing it during Le Mans filming between scenes, when he was not wearing the Monaco. That makes the Submariner a separate, documented part of the story—not the film’s principal screen watch. The available listing information supports those points, but does not establish further specifications or a complete account of the watch’s history. Sotheby’s listing summary
Rank #2
- Classic Style Men Mechanical wristwatch
- Stainless Steel Watch Strap Fold up with Safety
- Oblong(square) Case White Dial with Stripes
- Day and Date Sub Dials with Luminous Hands
- The watch is powered by the motion of the wearer's wrist. If the watch is not worn for 8 or more active hours per day, it will run slower than usual or even stop briefly.
Monaco or Submariner: what does the evidence show?
| Watch | Connection to Le Mans | What the cited evidence establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Heuer Monaco 1133B | Strong screen association | TAG Heuer identifies the reference worn by McQueen; Sotheby’s describes watches supplied for the production and catalogues a particular example with a provenance letter. The exact case seen in every shot is not always identifiable. |
| Rolex Submariner 5512 | Between-scene photograph and ownership record | Sotheby’s listing summary says documentation records McQueen’s prior ownership and that he was photographed wearing it between scenes. Further specifications are not stated in the cited listing summary. |
The distinction matters: “the Steve McQueen watch” usually points to the Monaco because of its prominent screen association, while the Submariner is supported by separate ownership and between-scene evidence. Neither account establishes every watch McQueen owned over his lifetime.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check when looking for a McQueen-era Monaco
A vintage 1133B and a current Monaco can share a recognizable design language without being the same watch. For a specific vintage example, the useful questions are whether its reference and details match the claimed model, what documentation supports its provenance, and what its condition and service history are. The film connection of one catalogued example does not establish the provenance of another watch. No general price or value follows from the historical association: it depends on the individual watch, its documentation, condition, sale date and venue.
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- Featuring Precisionist, the world’s most advanced chronograph with a continuously sweeping second hand. Celebrated for its blend of technology and design innovation, features statement-making case shapes and the incorporation of innovative materials.
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