Timepieces from Twentieth Century Icons to be Auctioned in Antiquorum’s June Sale

Antiquorum’s sale of “ Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Pocket Watch & Clocks” on June 11th promises to be an exciting auction as it will include timepieces from twentieth century icons President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Steve McQueen. If you had some extra cash on the side, which one would you get?


1)The 14K gold Movado watch retailed by Tiffany and Co. that was given to President Roosevelt on the occasion of his 63rd and last birthday by his son-in-law, Col. John Boettiger on January 30, 1945 will most certainly be of interest to FDR fans and Movado aficionados alike. This timepiece is a unique and historically important Movado Ref. 44776 with triple date calendar, produced in 1944 accompanied by correspondence authenticating FDR’s memorabilia.




2)Of interest for the Frank Sinatra fan is the legendary crooner’s Gruen watch and gold chain necklace. This timepiece is a fine and very thin14K pink gold wristwatch with a pink gold-plated brick link bracelet and is accompanied by a 49 cm gold-plated necklace with 12 letter-links spelling “Frank Sinatra.”




3)Sammy Davis Jr.’s Cartier Pasha in the June sale. It was given to him by his best friend Frank Sinatra in the late 1980’s, and is inscribed, “Sammy I Luv Ya F.A.S.”




4)The iconic Heuer “Monaco” wristwatch previously owned by Steve McQueen and worn by him during the filming of the 1971 movie “Le Mans”. Steve presented the watch to his financial advisor upon his return home from filming in appreciation for financially restructuring both himself personally and his company, Solar Productions Inc.




5)Steve McQueen’s Rolex "Submariner" produced in 1967. The timepiece is a fine, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel diver’s wristwatch. The watch was given by Steve McQueen to his good friend Jimmy Brucker in early 1980, to whom he also subsequently willed his airplane hangar at the Santa Paula Airport where he had stored his airplane, bikes and an extensive memorabilia collection.





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Also for the McQueen fan and motorcycle enthusiast, Antiquorum will be offering the ex-Steve McQueen, Von Dutch1929 Scott 596cc Super Squirrel Engine no. Y2373A. Produced by the Scott Motorcycle Company, the present motorcycle is not only a fine example of one of the most technologically advanced machines of its day, but it was restored, painted and pin striped in the 1970s by the legendary Kenny "Von Dutch" Howard. The bike features the infamous Von Dutch ‘flying eyeball’ logo affixed in cloisonné to the toolbox, while the Scott logos are all hand-painted and finished in gold leaf. A unique feature of the bike is that Von Dutch mistakenly lettered the date on the front number plate ‘1926’ instead of the correct ‘1929.’ Having recognized the historical and artistic significance of this motorcycle, prior to his death, Steve McQueen gifted the bike back to Von Dutch so that he may personally own his masterpiece. Following its sale by Von Dutch to a collector in California, the bike came full circle when it was purchased (and now consigned for sale in the present auction) by Tonny Sorensen, owner of the Von Dutch clothing company. Until recently the bike was on display at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as part of the “MotStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit.

That time piece that Sinatra gave to Sammy Davis, Jr. is amazing.

Vincenzo wrote:That time piece that Sinatra gave to Sammy Davis, Jr. is amazing.

These Vegas stars had a history of generosity. Steve Lawrence once gave his entire band Rolex watches. When his wife Eydie Gorme found out about these gifts she made them give back the watches and gave poor hubby Steve he##. As for Davis, he was so generous with all his friends and family he died a banckrupt man. Only thing his wife Altovese didn't know of Sammy's low cash assets and spent the rest of her life in her husbands debt.