Marlon Brando’s Iconic Rolex Auction Hits Legal Snag: $5 Million Transaction

In a surprising turn of events, the sale of Marlon Brando’s legendary Rolex GMT-Master, worn during the filming of “Apocalypse Now,” has encountered a legal hurdle. The one-of-a-kind timepiece, featuring distinctive customizations, was auctioned at Christie’s in November for a staggering sum exceeding $5 million. However, the transaction has been temporarily halted as the latest owner, Omani businessman Mohammed Zaman, filed a lawsuit in Geneva, sparking speculation about the reasons behind this legal dispute.

Zaman, a seasoned watch collector with a 45-year history, curated an impressive collection that went under the hammer at Christie’s. The November 6 auction saw 113 watches, including the famed replica Rolex GMT-Master, collectively fetching over $42 million. Despite the success of the auction, Zaman’s legal action has thrown the entire transaction into uncertainty. Details of his grievances with the esteemed auction house remain shrouded in mystery, with both Christie’s and Zaman’s legal representatives declining to comment on the matter.

The extraordinary value attached to Brando’s watch is rooted in its unique characteristics, notably the engraved signature of the iconic actor on the back and the absence of a bezel. During the filming of “Apocalypse Now” in 1979, Brando, cast as Col. Walter E. Kurtz, resisted requests to remove the watch, insisting that its presence was integral to his role as an actor. To compromise, he removed the bezel and personally engraved “M. Brando” on the back using an electric engraver pen.

The watch, believed lost for years, resurfaced in 2019 when Brando’s daughter, Petra Brando Fischer, auctioned it at Phillips for $1.95 million. In a poignant gesture, Brando had gifted the watch to Petra in 1995 upon her graduation from Brown University, underscoring its sentimental value. Petra, in turn, presented the watch to her husband as a wedding gift, leading to its eventual reappearance at auction.

The legal dispute surrounding the recent Christie’s auction adds a new chapter to the storied history of Marlon Brando’s fake Rolex GMT-Master. The intricacies of the disagreement between Zaman and the auction house are yet to be unveiled, leaving the future of the $5 million transaction hanging in the balance. Until the legal matters are resolved, winning bidders have been advised to refrain from making payments, creating a suspenseful interlude in the ongoing saga of this iconic timepiece.