The watch most closely tied to Steve McQueen is the blue Heuer Monaco reference 1133B he wore while filming Le Mans. But it was not the only watch associated with him: Sotheby’s also documents his ownership of a Rolex Submariner reference 5512 and a photograph of him wearing it between scenes. The two watches have distinct evidence and roles in the story.
Which watch did Steve McQueen wear in Le Mans?
McQueen’s best-supported on-screen watch association is the Heuer Monaco 1133B. The square-cased chronograph’s blue dial is prominent in the film, where its motorsport setting helped make it an enduring part of the Monaco’s identity. TAG Heuer’s vintage-history account identifies the model as reference 1133B and describes its dial as flat midnight blue, with white registers and red-tipped hands. TAG Heuer’s vintage Monaco history recounts how the watch was selected for the production.
The selection story comes with an important qualification: TAG Heuer attributes details to property master Don Nunley and racing driver Derek Bell, while its account of founder Jack Heuer’s recollection is second-hand—he was not present when McQueen chose the watch. Nunley’s account includes the remark, “Not an Omega, they might use my name”; it is a recollection reported by the brand, not a recorded exchange independently verified in the cited account.
What makes the Monaco 1133B distinctive?
TAG Heuer dates the vintage 1133 family to 1969–1975 and says it used Calibre 11 or 12 automatic movements. The 1133B is the blue-dial version; other Monaco references from the period differ in details. TAG Heuer says the Monaco was first released in Geneva on March 3, 1969, and describes it as the first water-resistant square-faced automatic chronograph. That priority claim is the manufacturer’s characterization.
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The association with McQueen helped give the design an unusually clear film connection, but “the McQueen Monaco” does not identify one uniquely established case. Multiple watches were supplied for production, and an individual surviving watch’s link to the film depends on its own provenance.
How many Monacos were used, and can a surviving example be identified?
Sotheby’s 2024 catalogue says six reference 1133B models were supplied for McQueen’s use and as backups on the set. Its account says McQueen gave one to business manager Bill Maher and another to mechanic Haig Altounian after production; a further example eventually entered the TAG Heuer Museum. TAG Heuer separately recounts the gift to Altounian, including an inscription reading “To Haig Le Mans 1970.” The brand’s telling says McQueen thanked him for “keeping me alive all these months.” These are accounts attributed to the brand and auction catalogue.
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A Sotheby’s 2024 catalogue entry describes a blue-dial stainless-steel Monaco 1133B, calibre 11, with case number 160’304 and a stated 40 mm width. The catalogue includes a provenance letter and connects that example to the production. It also cautions that the precise watch visible in every filmed appearance cannot always be identified among the watches supplied to the set. A production connection therefore should not be inflated into certainty that a particular case appears in every shot. Sotheby’s 2024 catalogue entry gives the lot’s details and provenance account.
What Rolex did Steve McQueen wear?
Sotheby’s listing summary identifies a Rolex Submariner reference 5512 accompanied by documentation of McQueen’s prior ownership. It also says he was photographed wearing it during Le Mans filming between scenes when he was not wearing the Monaco. This supports a separate McQueen connection, but it does not make the Submariner his principal on-screen watch in the film. The listing summary does not establish further specifications here, so details beyond the reference and the stated ownership and photograph evidence should not be inferred. Sotheby’s Submariner listing is the source for that description.
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How to distinguish the vintage film watch from a modern Monaco
TAG Heuer continues to offer Monaco watches, but a contemporary Monaco is a related modern product, not automatically the vintage 1133B used for Le Mans. The historical reference belongs to the 1969–1975 1133 family described by TAG Heuer; the film connection attaches to specific vintage watches and their production provenance.
- For the historical model: check the reference, period-appropriate features, condition, service history, and documented provenance. A familiar square case and blue dial alone do not prove film use or ownership by McQueen.
- For a present-day watch: treat it as a modern TAG Heuer Monaco and assess its own reference and specifications. Do not describe it as screen-used or as McQueen’s original watch unless the individual watch has evidence supporting that claim.
The available records establish notable Monaco and Submariner connections, not a complete inventory of every watch McQueen owned.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- AFTERMARKET HIGH-QUALITY CANVAS/LEATHER STRAP compatible with TAG HEUER Watches MONACO CARRERA FORMULA 1
- Material: canvas (top), leather (bottom) + high-quality 316L stainless steel
- Package: 1 x strap with deployment clasp, 2 x pins, 1 x tool
- Length: 115 mm + 75mm excl. the clasp
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- TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf Special Edition Model CAW211R.FC6401
- Blue Dial with Gulf Racing Blue and Orange Stripes
- Stainless Steel Case on Blue Calfskin Leather Strap with Orange Stitching and Inner Lining
- Case Diameter: 39mm
- TAG Heuer Caliber 11, Self-winding Automatic Movement
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