For at least the past 10 years, we have been tracking the Monaco chronographs that were used in the filming of Lee Mans. A June 1970 invoice from Heuer (Switzerland) to Don Nunley, the property master of Le Mans, shows that Heuer delivered six of the blue Monacos to Le Mans for the filming. Of course, there are rumors and stories of additional Monacos being delivered to Le Mans and used in the filming.

This past week came news that one of the six Monacos that we have been tracking will be sold by Phillips, in an auction being held December 12, in New York City.

The watch is a very interesting one -- given by Steve McQueen to his friend and personal mechanic, Haig Alltounian, at the end of the filming, with engraving on the case-back. So the provenance seems perfect. It seems that Alltounian wore the watch occasionally, but essentially kept it locked away for the last 50 years. And now it will be sold by Phillips, in an auction that will also include a Rolex Daytona owned by Paul Newman.

Here is our page covering the six Monaco chronographs documented to have been used in the filming of Le Mans -- http://www.onthedash.com/racer/steve-mcqueen/

No doubt, this will create great interest in the Monaco chronographs over the next few weeks.

Jeff