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Tom Brady has cemented himself as one of our greatest living watch collectors. Even during his time as an IWC ambassador, he seemed to understand better than most collectors why watches matter. And since being freed from those contractual obligations last year, he’s shown off a massive range of pieces, from the buzzy Cartier Crash to an ultra-rare Rolex Daytona to a swanky Patek Philippe. Now, for the first time ever, Brady is auctioning off a selection of his watches through Sotheby’s in December.
What Brady has always understood about timepieces is their ability to capture a moment. A great watch absorbs the flavor of the emotions that come with life-changing events—the tofu of the collectibles space, if you will. “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,” Brady said in a statement. “I’m excited to give fans and collectors a chance to own and cherish these special pieces from my journey just like I have.”
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner, is not short on stories and accomplishments to infuse with his watches. Take for instance his IWC Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN Edition, the piece with the lowest estimate ($12,000 to 18,000) in the auction. This is the very watch that Brady wore while celebrating the parade for his 2021 Super Bowl victory. More importantly, this is also the watch that Drunk Brady wore, which is maybe my all-time favorite iteration of the GOAT. (As a New York Giants fan, my real favorite is Super Bowl runner-up Brady.)
These watches are part of a larger themed auction titled “The GOAT Collection: Watches and Treasures from Tom Brady.” In addition to watches, Sotheby’s is also bringing the Michigan jersey Brady wore during his very last game for the Wolverines, the shirt he sported during his (uninspiring) 40-yard dash at the combine, and another kind of wristwear in the form of a wristband from the New England Patriots’ legendary comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. (Brady’s stuff does numbers at auction: Pats owner Robert Kraft recently paid $120,000 for a signed rookie card of his.) Sotheby’s plans to bring highlights from this auction to its houses in Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas. Stay tuned for dates.
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