Introducing the "Steve McQueen & Bud Ekins ROLEX Submariner"

There is a strong argument that provenance can play a huge roll in the desirability and subsequently the value of vintage timepieces, especially when it entails ownership by the “King of Cool” Steve McQueen. The story of this Steve McQueen Rolex Submariner, one of two ROLEX owned by McQueen, makes this particular Submariner especially significant.

A ROLEX Submariner ref. 5512 owned by Steve McQueen sold at Antiquorum on June 11, 2009 for $234,000. Considering the history of this Submariner, Bud Ekins (Motorcycle celebrity/stuntman & close friend of McQueen’s) played a very crucial role when he introduced Steve to Jimmy Brucker to whom Steve ultimately gave the ref. 5512 Submariner. What the public didn’t know until now is Steve had another ROLEX Submariner, this one an earlier ref. 5513 with gilt dial, which he gave to Bud before he ever gave a watch to Brucker. The story of how the 5513 was acquired is very suiting to his and Bud’s relationship given McQueen’s recognition as a horological, automotive, and cinematic icon. Steve was negotiating a motorcycle purchase while being advised by Ekins, when deadlocked in a price bid to buy the bike Steve offered to purchase it at the current price if the man threw in his Rolex Submariner. This ultimately sealed the deal. One week later Steve gave the watch to his good friend Bud Ekins for all his help coaching Steve on motorcycle racing and acquisitions. Bud, a celebrity in his own right, wore this matching Submariner (almost identical looking to Steve’s 5512 which also had the missing pearl from the bezel) everyday for 22 years side by side with McQueen. Bud Ekins being Steve’s stunt double looked similar and shared similar style and interests which helped create a strong bond between these two men. There is a strong argument that provenance can play a huge roll in the desirability and subsequently the value of vintage timepieces, especially when it entails ownership by the “King of Cool” Steve McQueen. The story of this Steve McQueen Rolex Submariner, one of two ROLEX owned by McQueen, makes this particular Submariner especially significant.

A ROLEX Submariner ref. 5512 owned by Steve McQueen sold at Antiquorum on June 11, 2009 for $234,000. Considering the history of this Submariner, Bud Ekins (Motorcycle celebrity/stuntman & close friend of McQueen’s) played a very crucial role when he introduced Steve to Jimmy Brucker to whom Steve ultimately gave the ref. 5512 Submariner. What the public didn’t know until now is Steve had another ROLEX Submariner, this one an earlier ref. 5513 with gilt dial, which he gave to Bud before he ever gave a watch to Brucker. The story of how the 5513 was acquired is very suiting to his and Bud’s relationship given McQueen’s recognition as a horological, automotive, and cinematic icon. Steve was negotiating a motorcycle purchase while being advised by Ekins, when deadlocked in a price bid to buy the bike Steve offered to purchase it at the current price if the man threw in his Rolex Submariner. This ultimately sealed the deal. One week later Steve gave the watch to his good friend Bud Ekins for all his help coaching Steve on motorcycle racing and acquisitions. Bud, a celebrity in his own right, wore this matching Submariner (almost identical looking to Steve’s 5512 which also had the missing pearl from the bezel) everyday for 22 years side by side with McQueen. Bud Ekins being Steve’s stunt double looked similar and shared similar style and interests which helped create a strong bond between these two men.

Bud Ekins

“After a successful foray into British motorcyce sport, Bud Ekins moved to California and ran a very successful Triumph dealership. He had become something of a hero to Hollywood’s young movie actors, who would often hang out at his shop. One of those actors was Steve McQueen. When McQueen bought an off-road motorcycle, Ekins, then the absolute master of Souther California off-road motorcycle racing, coached him in bike control on the desert washes and fir trails of the area. McQueen, in turn, got Ekins stuntman jobs in the film industry. They quickly became very close friends and their attention turned to racing and collecting cars and bikes.” (Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, Pocket Watches & Clocks. Antiquorum, Thursday June 11, 2009)