The spectacular Rolex GMT-Master hit the auction block four years after its initial sale – and the hammer price became more than twice as high.
The iconic Rolex GMT worn by Marlon Brando in his role as Col. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now was recently sold at auction for a staggering $5.1 million. This watch was previously auctioned by Brando’s family in 2019, and garnered almost three times its original price.
Brando, who played the character Col. Kurtz in the Vietnam War film, removed the bezel and bracelet from the watch to suit his role. Additionally, he engraved his name on the case back, making this timepiece a unique and iconic piece of Brando memorabilia. The watch was originally gifted to Brando’s adopted daughter and was accompanied by a signed letter from her.
What made this timepiece especially valuable was Brando’s customization. He opted to replace the original bracelet with a leather strap and engraved his name, “M. Brando,” on the back of the case. Additionally, this automatic dual-time watch comes with two bespoke “MB” straps crafted by Attila Aszodi, as well as two letters of provenance signed by individuals close to Brando.
The watch was gifted by Brando to his adopted daughter Petra Brando Fischer in 1995 and comes with two accompanying letters of provenance. One was written by Fischer herself, while the other was penned by Caroline Barrett, Brando’s assistant of 25 years and Fischer’s mother. The watch is accompanied by a handwritten letter from Brando to his daughter expressing pride in her accomplishments.
According to Christie, Brando’s daughter, Petra Brando Fischer, revealed that her father was asked to remove the watch during filming in the Philippines as it might draw too much attention. In response, Brando famously stated that if people were focused on his watch, then he wasn’t doing his job as an actor.
Christie described it as one of the most important Rolex wristwatches in private hands, highlighting its significance as a piece of Brando’s legacy. The exact identity of the new owner remains unknown.
Although the Rolex worn by Brando is an extraordinary piece, it does not hold the record for the most expensive watch auctioned, which belongs to Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona from the 1969 film Winning. That watch fetched an astounding $17.8 million in 2017.
