Some choice items from NFL star Tom Brady’s watch collection will be sold at auction this December, with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak tipped to realise up to $800,000.
The Brady collection of timepieces is being sold alongside a selection of the 7-times Superbowl winner’s shirts and helmets.
Sotheby’s, who host the live sale on December 10, have named the collection “The G. O, A. T.” in recognition of Brady’s slew of NFL records and the quality of the watches.
This is a connoisseur’s collection. Brady was gifted his first watch as he graduated from high school and used the riches that came with his first Superbowl win to secure an IWC GST Automatic Alarm that had been an obsession since his college days.
The top-valued item is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbilon made especially for Brady on the occasion of a Netflix special Roast.
Brady’s Royal Oak is unmistakably his, but now it can be yours.
Brady said: “I’ve been so fortunate to have such an amazing journey in my career, and these watches and collectibles really capture those unforgettable moments and all the hard work behind them.
“I’m excited to give fans and collectors a chance to own and cherish these special pieces from my
journey just like I have. I hope they bring as much joy and inspiration to fans as they did for me!”
The Royal Oak is in white gold. The bezel is set with baguette diamonds. The dial is in salmon with a tapisserie evolutive pattern radiating asymmetrically from the tourbillon. On it is written Brady’s name in diamonds.
Sotheby’s have put a $400,000 to $800,000 estimate on the watch.
Richard Lopez of Sotheby’s said: “Just as he mastered the language of football, [Tom] has devoted himself to understanding the intricacies of watches, curating a world-class assortment of exquisite timepieces in recent years that reflects his deep passion for collecting.”
Alongside the Royal Oak is a rose-gold Patek Philippe Nautilus with a $180,000 to $240,000 estimate.
A Richard Mille 35-03 ‘Baby Nadal’ is predicted to raise $300,000 to $500,000.
No great watch sale would be complete without a Rolex, and Brady’s Rolex ref 228396TBR boasts diamonds across the case and dial, and is tipped for a $80,000 to $120,000 sale.
How much will Brady’s name add to these already collectible watches?
The eight most valuable Royal Oaks ever sold have all realised over $1 million.
The most valuable ever is a Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘Spider-Man’, a special edition that made $6.2 million.
Royal Oaks now retail for at least £20,000, and a “price on application” label on Audemars’ website lets you know you need serious money to order a new one.
Brady’s watches are so unusual and so tied to his value as a collectible personality – possibly the greatest NFL player of all time – that it is extremely hard to value them.
With the watches are listed Brady’s game-worn jerseys from the University of Michigan, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The top item among the sports memorabilia is a Michigan jersey from Brady’s final game at college level that carries a $300,000 to 500,000 estimate.
The Brady collections are on show from December 5, with an evening sale on December 10 in New York.
