This week, the Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection Sale took place as a live auction at Bonhams New Bond Street sale room. A stunning pair of gold wristwatches belonging to Sir Michael and Lady Shakira Caine were the stars of the sale.
Sir Michael’s 18k gold Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date, (Reference: 19018/19000), which he had owned since 1979 and had appeared in several films, most famously Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, achieved £125,250 (including premium) – up on its estimate £8,000 – 12,000. Lady Caine’s circa 1990 Patek Philippe La Flamme, sold for £19,000 (including premium).
The Oysterquartz offered represented Sir Michael’s third notable foray into the world of Rolex, superseding his earlier Oyster Perpetual Day-Dates seen in Get Carter and Sleuth. Ever the trailblazer, Sir Michael acquired the Sunburst champagne dial Oysterquartz shortly after the watch was first launched in the late 1970s.
Sir Michael confirmed that he wore this watch during numerous roles but, perhaps, most famously as Lawrence Jamieson in the 1988 motion picture Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The gold bracelet can be seen nestled within Sir Michael’s crisp white suit as he toasts with Steve Martin upon the promotional posters for the film. It was also his go-to off-duty timepiece, as depicted in the well- known portrait by celebrated American photographer, Steve Schapiro, where Sir Michael is seen sitting at home in LA, with cigar in one hand, wine in the other, wearing his iconic glasses and the wristwatch.
Lady Caine’s Patek Philippe La Flamme offered an early example of the model (Reference: 4816/3), featuring a cream sigma dial with diamond set hour makers and a diamond set bezel. It demonstrates the high level of watchmaking that Patek is renowned for, with attention to detail running throughout the design of the piece, down to the unusually engraved hands. No wonder this watch attracted the discerning eye of Lady Caine, renowned for her elegance and effortless style.
The sale also provided an opportunity to purchase an array of items reflecting the breadth of Sir Michael’s career, from movie posters, works of art and fine art to his iconic spectacles. For full details of the results visit Bonhams.
This sale follows the Bonhams Knightsbridge Watches and Wristwatches Sale in February, which saw a circa 1975 Rolex Submariner, owned from new by a former member of the Royal Navy, selling for £200,250 – three times its original estimate. The rare military issue wristwatch, ref: 5513/5517, was one of a limited batch commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence in the 1970s, with enhanced specifications including thicker, sword-shaped hands for enhanced legibility.
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Photo: Sir Michael Caine’s Rolex. An 18K gold quartz calendar bracelet watch Oysterquartz Day-Date, Ref 19018/19000, Circa 1979. Sold 2nd March 2022. Bonhams