A Rolex GMT Master once owned by Marlon Brando and worn during the filming of Apocalypse Now continues to be seized by a Swiss court after an auction at Christie’s collapsed amid chaos.
The watch’s caseback had Mr. Brando’s name engraved on it, and he had removed the 24-hour bezel, making it look more like a field watch that a mad soldier might have worn in the Vietnamese jungle.
There’s no end in sight to the Brando Rolex legal battle unfolding in Geneva, but WatchPro has just become aware of an alternative: a limited edition 101 Mark II from British independent watchmaker Freese that bears more than just a passing resemblance.
Freese is the creation of Simon Freese, who founded his own company, Simon Freeze Watchmakers, after 15 years as a watchmaker and workshop manager at Swiss Time Services in Essex.
Founded as a brand in 2018, Freese Watches will join more than 40 British brands to unveil the Freese 101 Mark II in a limited edition of 101 pieces to the public at the upcoming British Watchmakers’ Day on Saturday 9 March in London.
The watch was custom-made for the event and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Any unsold watches will be offered to customers who have registered their interest in advance but were unable to attend the event.
The 101 Mark II is the first Freese watch with a British-made case.
It is powered by a powerful SW200 automatic movement from Sellita, which is sufficiently reliable and robust that Freese can offer a four-year guarantee on the watch.
“My goal was to create a simple, robust and reliable watch that you could wear and enjoy every day, and I believe we have achieved that with the Freese 101 Mark II,” says Mr. Freese.
“The initial feedback from watch enthusiasts about the Freese 101 Mark II was extremely positive. Some suggest it bears a resemblance to the famous Rolex GMT 1675 worn by film legend Marlon Brando in the 1970s Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now. Some notable collectors even affectionately refer to the new Freese creation as “The Brando,” he adds.
The 41mm stainless steel watch features a hand-printed brass dial with vintage lume markers and dagger-shaped hands.
It’s on sale at British Watchmakers’ Day for £2,195 with a leather watch roll.
