Martial arts superstar Bruce Lee’s watch sells for huge price at auction in Hong Kong
- Unidentified buyer snaps up rare collectible for much more than expected price of HK$80,000 to HK$150,000
- Lee gifted the Universal Genève Polerouter to his friend and confidant Herb Jackson around 1968
A watch once owned by martial arts legend Bruce Lee has been sold for HK$225,000 (US$28,700) at an auction held in Hong Kong – far exceeding its expected asking price.
Pieces of Bruce Lee memorabilia are usually hot items and the Universal Genève Polerouter timepiece (circa 1950s) was described as a “very rare and historically interesting yellow gold-plated stainless steel wristwatch with sweep centre seconds”.
It was sold to an unidentified buyer as item 860 of 82 lots during the Phillips & Blackbird: Sports auction on Monday night at the JW Marriott Hotel.
The timepiece had been expected to fetch between HK$80,000 to HK$150,000 but was sold for a much higher price.
The watch came with a letter of provenance from its previous owner, Herb Jackson, who was Lee’s martial arts student, friend and confidant in the United States.