The Rolex GMT-Master ref. 1675 worn by Marlon Brando in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now will be offered by Phillips in their flagship New York auction "Game Changers", taking place on 10 December 2019.
The Rolex GMT-Master ref. 1675 worn by Marlon Brando in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now will be offered by Phillips in their flagship New York auction "Game Changers", taking place on 10 December 2019.
In addition to its role on the silver screen on the wrist of Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, the character played by Brando, the GMT-Master being offered at Phillips is made even more extraordinary by the never-before-seen engraving on the caseback, “M. Brando,” hand-engraved by Marlon Brando himself.
This watch remained in Brando’s possession until 1995, when he gifted it to his daughter, Petra Brando Fischer. The auction this December marks the watch’s first time ever being shown publicly and offered for sale since having been acquired by the actor in the early 1970s.
During the filming, he was told that he had to remove the bezel as it would stand out. Brando said that he argued, “If they’re looking at my watch, then I’m not doing my job as an actor.” He said that the filmmakers let him wear the watch, but he removed the bezel, resulting in the unique-looking timepiece that is so closely associated with Colonel Kurtz.
The Rolex GMT-Master ref. 1675 is being offered as it was received by Petra, without a bezel and fitted on a rubber strap. The watch is well preserved, retaining all bevels, curves, and sharp edges as delivered from the Rolex factory nearly five decades ago. The luminous hour markers and hands have aged to a nice shade of beige, and the dial, hands, case, crystal, and crown are all original to the watch.
A portion of the sale proceeds will assist a charitable foundation established by Petra and her husband, Russel Fischer, which will provide financial support to children who are living through serious hardship due to abuse, neglect, poverty, or disability - causes which Petra believes would have been very important to her father.
Taking place on 10 December, "Game Changers" will be a curated thematic auction dedicated to watches owned by extraordinary people who are considered “game changers” in their fields. phillips.com
In addition to its role on the silver screen on the wrist of Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, the character played by Brando, the GMT-Master being offered at Phillips is made even more extraordinary by the never-before-seen engraving on the caseback, “M. Brando,” hand-engraved by Marlon Brando himself.
This watch remained in Brando’s possession until 1995, when he gifted it to his daughter, Petra Brando Fischer. The auction this December marks the watch’s first time ever being shown publicly and offered for sale since having been acquired by the actor in the early 1970s.
During the filming, he was told that he had to remove the bezel as it would stand out. Brando said that he argued, “If they’re looking at my watch, then I’m not doing my job as an actor.” He said that the filmmakers let him wear the watch, but he removed the bezel, resulting in the unique-looking timepiece that is so closely associated with Colonel Kurtz.
Marlon Brando on the set of Apocalypse Now
Picture credit: Mary Ellen Mark
Picture credit: Mary Ellen Mark
The Rolex GMT-Master ref. 1675 is being offered as it was received by Petra, without a bezel and fitted on a rubber strap. The watch is well preserved, retaining all bevels, curves, and sharp edges as delivered from the Rolex factory nearly five decades ago. The luminous hour markers and hands have aged to a nice shade of beige, and the dial, hands, case, crystal, and crown are all original to the watch.
A portion of the sale proceeds will assist a charitable foundation established by Petra and her husband, Russel Fischer, which will provide financial support to children who are living through serious hardship due to abuse, neglect, poverty, or disability - causes which Petra believes would have been very important to her father.
Taking place on 10 December, "Game Changers" will be a curated thematic auction dedicated to watches owned by extraordinary people who are considered “game changers” in their fields. phillips.com
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