A visionary entrepreneur, Steve Jobs the co-founder of Apple Inc., was born on 4th February 1955 in San Francisco. From a young age he showed a passion for electronics and design and in 1976, he co-founded Apple along with Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak, introducing Apple I and then Macintosh.
Steve Job’s impact has not only limited to technology, but his design philosophy, ability to predict market trends and emphasis on user experience left a huge mark on the industry. Job’s death at the age of 56 in 2011 affected the business world and he received tributes from Apple fans and also Bill Gates, his former business competitor. After his death, Apple became a significant player in the watch market.
For Steve Jobs, his watch was first about function and later form. He owned watches from Seiko, Baume & Mercier.
With a net worth of $10.2 billion at the time of his death in 2011, Steve Jobs had a very decent watch collection, with watches priced from $400.
Let us have a look at Steve Jobs watch collection.
From Apple to Audemars: Steve Jobs’s Watch Collection, One Tick at a Time
Seiko Quartz Reference 6431-6030
The watch that Steve Jobs was most associated with is a Seiko Quartz. In his iconic Time magazine photoshoot for Macintosh in 1984, Steve Jobs was spotted wearing this wristwatch from the Chariot range. Following his death in 2011, this timepiece sold for $42,500 at an auction in 2016. Measuring 33mm, this watch is powered by a regular quartz movement with +/- 15 seconds per month tolerance. The dial of the watch is adorned with Helvetica numerals, seconds markers around the edge and a sleek handset. In 2017, this watch was released as a collaboration between Seiko and Nano Universe, a Japanese clothing retailer. Available in two sizes such as 33mm and 37.5mm, its case is made of stainless steel and is powered by a quartz movement. This timepiece was released in a limited edition of 300 units with black dials and 1982 units with white dials and was only available for purchase in Japan. This watch has been renamed to Seiko X Nano Universe Limited Edition White Quartz SCXP 061.
Price: ¥21,600
Seiko D031
Another Seiko on metal bracelet watch that also dated to the early 1980s, was worn by Steve Jobs. This simple design of this timepiece from Seiko was a favorite of his. Using a dot matrix digital display, this was the first ever watch to do so.
Resale Price: Starting from $400 on eBay
Baume and Mercier
According to Hodinkee, Steve Jobs’ caretaker revealed that he used to wear another watch, namely Baume & Mercier. Dating to the early 1980, this watch was worn regularly by Steve Jobs. This 18k gold Baume and Mercier timepiece comes with a brown lizard skin band. A Swiss timepiece with real history, Baume and Mercier started life as a comptour horologer and partnering with Paul Mercier in 1918, the Baume brothers founded Baume & Mercier Geneve.
Price: Starting from $2,678 on Chrono
What Watches Does Steve Jobs Owned?
Popular for his elegant style sense, many Steve Jobs watches reflected it. He had some opulent timepieces in his personal watch collection. The watches owned by him are:
- Seiko Quartz Three-Hander
- Seiko D031
- Baume and Mercier
From the Writer
Often seen wearing some signature timepieces throughout his life, Steve Jobs was more focused on simplicity and functionality. His watches are a reminder of his iconic style and his legacy as a visionary leader. All the watches that he owned were up for auction in 2015 and 2016. Neither of these timepieces is of any historical or horological importance, but these sales are only about owning watches from the time that was very significant to the Apple founder and his career.
