Francis Ford Coppola auctioning his luxury watches to stay 'afloat'
What's the story
Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola (86) is auctioning seven timepieces from his personal collection, reported PEOPLE. The sale will be conducted by Phillips, an auction house specializing in watches, on December 6 and 7 in NYC. This move comes after the filmmaker's recent financial setback with Megalopolis, which reportedly cost over $120 million but only grossed around $14 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. Coppola told The Times, "I need to get some money to keep the ship afloat."
Auction details
The unique F.P. Journe FFC Prototype watch
The auction will feature a unique timepiece designed by Coppola in collaboration with renowned watchmaker François-Paul Journe. The F.P. Journe FFC Prototype is a black titanium wristwatch with a human-like hand that indicates different hours by extending or retracting its fingers and thumb. "Speaking with Francis in 2012 and hearing his idea on the use of a human hand to indicate time inspired me to create a watch I never could have imagined myself," said Journe.
Watch value
The watch was worn by Coppola at 'Megalopolis' premiere
The F.P. Journe FFC Prototype is expected to fetch around $1 million at the auction. This estimate is based on the price of bespoke versions of the watch that Journe sold to private clients. The Godfather director wore this unique timepiece at the Cannes premiere of Megalopolis in 2024.
Watchmaker's endorsement
Journe expresses support for the sale
Journe has expressed his support for the sale of the F.P. Journe FFC Prototype to fund Coppola's future filmmaking projects. "After years of collaborating directly with Francis in the development process, it was a great pleasure to deliver this FFC prototype to him in 2021." "I'm proud to fully support the sale of this watch through Phillips to fund the creation of his artistic masterpieces in filmmaking."