Auctioneer can take phantom bids up to reserve (in UK) if rules are same in other countries then you don't necessarily need 2 bidders.
Jeeper
Just as there is speculation that the original Newman Daytona was purchased by Rolex, I wondered if this Monaco was won by someone affiliated with TAG Heuer?
LOL
In the vintage car collectors market, some untouched unrestored rusted cars have higher values than their pristine restored equivalents. Collectors want the real deal and rust & bumps is part of that. This watch has a unique back story, kept by McQueen and gifted to Haig. So that's why I think it's worth more than Dunley's other Monaco movie prop watches, even if they might be in better condition.
I agree but this watch isn't untouched though. It has great patina with rust, scratches and dents but it has been polished at some point. The loss of sharp edges is not due to wear imo. For a Monaco that's a big deal for me, it completely changes the watch. Then again I don't think any condition would have mattered much to achieve the price.
look at the top two corners and case edge between them. It's all a bit rounded, stump. I don't believe this is due to wear, it's too even all around. Also the top of the lugs and adjacent case sides appear to have brushing on all photos I could find. Originally these were polished.
Here's a similar photo of mine:
Further obvious here, including the brushing:
