The power of ‘celebrity’ is not a new concept. As far back as the ancient pharaohs, celebrities have been put on a pedestal (sometimes literally) and we’ve obsessed into the lives of the powerful, the wealthy and the beautiful. These days, technology puts the beautiful people at our fingertips, and this all-access, always-on, microscope into famous lives continues to fuel the celebrity fire. And that desire for fame through association is at its strongest when it comes to celebrity-owned objects. Tonight, Russell Crowe will auction off a collection of movie memorabilia, jewellery and watches at Sotheby’s in Sydney as part of his ‘Art of Divorce’ garage sale (2001 Mercedes Benz, anyone?). Watches on offer range from an Armani quartz watch (estimate $500-$1000) to a late ’90s yellow gold Rolex Daytona – at well over $40,000. It will be interesting to see how Rusty’s celebrity impacts the sale of his 29 timepieces. In light of this auction, we thought it would be fitting to look at other famous watches that have gone under the hammer, just to see how much of a difference a famous provenance makes. Note, prices are all estimates based on available RRPs at the time of manufacture.…
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