Articles' list >>> Malcolm McDowell’s Watch Collection
Malcolm McDowell, who has become famous for acting in A Clockwork Orange, O Lucky Man!, Star Trek Generations, Gangster No. 1 and many other impressive films, is an eager wristwatch collector.
Starting the Collection
The actor has been collecting timepieces since 1979 when he moved to California. Malcolm’s ex-wife gave him as a gift a beautiful, old 1918 watch at the opening of a play he performed in. The actor became fascinated by this superior World War I watch from the American military in stainless steel. Their mutual friend, a writer and a film critic Jay Cocks, has also been a collector. He was the one who advised Malcolm’s wife what present to get for his friend. Malcolm and jay used to drop in a wonderful store on Madison Avenue and look at the watches. The actor suddenly felt he became obsessed by watches. His attention was particularly drawn by the Rolexes produced in the period of 1920-1950, the watches which designs he really admired.
Malcolm’s Watch Preferences
Nowadays, the majority of the watches in the actor’s collection are Rolexes. Malcolm is also proud of his wonderful Tiffany watch in white gold. He likes steel watches – his collection comprises a nice and rare steel Prince. The Prince watch in gold, or two-tone gold, white and yellow gold, or silver is more common, but it is difficult to discover one in steel, that is the same expensive as the gold models.
The collection of about 60 watches appeared as the result of Malcolm’s original idea to buy himself an antique watch as a remembrance of a film or a play he was working at. With time the actor felt a desire not simply to buy a watch but to hunt out after a piece he admired. A timepiece the actor is dreaming about at the moment is a moonphase Rolex from the ‘50s. He once missed the opportunity to buy one for about $8000 that now is almost 10 times more expensive. Among his recent purchases there is the most spectacular octagonal silver ‘30’s Rolex, a watch with the most beautiful and original dial.
Malcolm does not prefer flash watches, but one of his favorite ones is really flashy and beautiful. This is a pink gold bubbleback featuring a pink California dial with the pink rice bracelet, bought in Geneva.
Malcolm’s collection consists of a great variety of World War I watches that the collector finds to be absolutely beautiful. These watches resemble for him pocket watches with a strap.
Malcolm purchased the most inconceivable Lifesavers one for himself and another for his wife. His steel Lifesaver features a pink face and is really hard to find.
Watches in Films
When Malcolm is going to act in a new film, the prop man usually chooses a watch for him to wear. This way he makes sure the actor has the same watch every day, as he tends to change watches all the time in his everyday life. But occasionally Malcolm wears watches from his personal collection in films.
Before taking part in a very brief season of the re-make of Fantasy Island, the actor was asked what watch he wanted, and Malcolm selected the Moon Watch from Omega that was presented to him afterwards. This nice watch is called a Ventura with a black face which resembles a slide rule. The actor prefers to wear it at night, because it’s really luminous and easily readable. It is in titanium on the titanium bracelet.
Malcolm’s Passion for Morgans
Malcolm is also well-known for his passion for Morgan automobiles. The actor became interested in them after he had driven a turbo Plus 8 that belonged to his friend. He visited the factory and acquired the same model. He also started attending the Morgan meetings to communicate to people who know a great deal about Morgans. Soon the actor was overwhelmed by the idea to find the Super Sport, the really great Morgan, and managed to do it just 10 years later. He restored the car beautifully and supplied it with a couple of wonderful old ‘50’s stopwatches. Malcolm owns a 120 Jaguar too. The collector really enjoys driving his great automobiles.
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