Historic Celebrity Watches on the Block at Antiquorum’s April Auction


Joe DiMaggio's Bulova AccutronAntiquorum Auctioneers’ next “Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces” auction will be held April 10th in New York City. Among the many exceptional pieces offered for sale are several watches associated with celebrities from the worlds of sports and entertainment, including a rare Rolex owned by Charlie Chaplin and a Bulova owned by Joe DiMaggio.
Fans of Hollywood’s silent film era will be drawn to one of the headliners of the sale, a left-handed Rolex once owned by the legendary “Little Tramp,” Charlie Chaplin. Not only is this timepiece an important piece of pop memorabilia due to its connection with Chaplin, one of the most iconic filmmakers and actors of all time; it is also significant because of its extreme rarity. One of the few left-handed models produced by Rolex during this period, it has a stainless steel case and a pristine enamel dial with a retailer signature by Asprey. It is accompanied by four vintage photos and various authenticating correspondence. Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000.
Charlie Chaplin's Rolex
Also offered in the auction is a Bulova Accutron owned by baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio, a three-time MVP winner and 13-time All-Star with the New York Yankees. During his career, the Yankees won 10 pennants and nine world championships. DiMaggio is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak from May 15 to July 16, 1941, a record that still stands. His Bulova Accutron watch is a rare asymmetrical model, with a water-resistant, stainless steel case and electronic movement. It comes with its original Accutron strap and is accompanied by a plethora of extras: the original fitted box, outer paper box, guarantee and instruction booklet, original extra power cell in a sleeve, two original tags and a letter of provenance written by DiMaggio’s granddaughters. Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000.
 
Joe DiMaggio's Bulova Accutron
Created to commemorate the release of last year’s blockbuster Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Ref. 277.8.62 Reverso “Batman: The Dark Knight Rises” is a limited edition of only 10 pieces, each of which was presented to Warner Brothers executives that were involved in the production of the film. Like other Reverso wristwatches, this extremely rare model has a rectangular, reversible case made of stainless steel (a stylized Batman emblem is engraved on the back side) and an enamel dial. The watch comes with its original fitted box and certificate. Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso "Dark Knight Rises"
The IWC Schaffhausen Ref. IW500127 Portuguese Automatic Edition “Tribeca Film Festival 2013” Unique Piece is another watch that pays tribute to filmmaking. IWC is now the Official ‘Festival-Time’ Partner of the world-famous Tribeca Film Festival in New York. To honor the festival and support its nonprofit partner, The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI), IWC has created this one-of-a-kind piece specially for the auction; the entire proceeds of its sale will support the Tribeca Film Institute. The watch is distinguished by its Bordeaux-colored subdials, meant to evoke Hollywood’s red carpets, and its slate-colored dial inspired by Tribeca in lower Manhattan. It has a platinum case; a movement with IWC’s Pellaton winding system, seven-day power reserve and date; and a black alligator strap with a platinum folding clasp.
IWC Portuguese "Tribeca Film Festival"
There will be a total of 404 lots in the April 10 auction, including rare and exceptional pieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Ulysse Nardin, and famed independent Danish watchmaker Svend Andersen.
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