This Rolex GMT-Master is an absolute one-of-a-kind piece. An engraving on the case back points to its prominent origin. It reads "M. Brando," hand-engraved by the star himself. Moreover, the watch even made a mark in film history. Brando wore it in his legendary role as Colonel Kurtz in the anti-war film "Apocalypse Now" (1979). By the way, this didn't sit well with the production team. The blue-red-painted bezel, the part of the case surrounding the watch glass, was simply too conspicuous for the filmmakers. Brando countered, "If people are looking at my watch, then I'm not doing my job as an actor well." In the end, he compromised, albeit slightly. The compromise was that Brando had the bezel removed and was allowed to keep his watch during the filming.
Four years later, he passed the bezel-less Rolex on to his adopted daughter, Petra Brando Fischer. Brando is said to have told her, "This watch is like a tank. You can do anything with it, and it will keep running." And he was right. The Rolex GMT-Master is still running today. Now, the auction house Christie's has sold it for a record sum of approximately 4.7 million euros as part of the "Passion for Time" auction series. A grand spectacle!
