Why Francis Ford Coppola Sold His $1 Million Custom Watch After the ‘Megalopolis’ Setback

In the 2025 documentary Megadoc, Francis Ford Coppola reflects on his much-criticized film Megalopolis. He takes full responsibility for its financial failure, having self-funded it at a whopping $120 million, only to see it gross a mere $14.4 million. In an interview, he cites French director Jacques Tati, who passed away in poverty but made films he believed in. “Who cares if you died broke,” Coppola muses, “if you made something beautiful?”

Despite the setback, Coppola has found ways to recover financially. He sold a large stake in his wine business and is now auctioning seven of his prized watches, including a unique timepiece he created with renowned watchmaker François-Paul Journe.

Among these watches is the F.P. Journe FFC Prototype. It began as a conversation between Coppola and Journe during a dinner in Napa Valley in 2012. Coppola posed the intriguing question: had a watch ever used a hand to tell time? This sparked a creative journey that led to the innovative design of the Prototype, which uses fingers to indicate hours.

“Coppola’s idea was challenging,” explains Paul Boutros, Phillips’ head of watches. “It pushed the boundaries of traditional watchmaking.” The watch is not only a result of artistic collaboration but also a blend of history, inspired by 16th-century surgical designs.

Journe presented the finished watch to Coppola as filming for Megalopolis began in 2021. The watch features a striking black-treated titanium hand and a platinum case. It gained attention when Coppola wore it at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024.

The Prototype’s estimated auction price is at least $1 million. This figure stems from the retail price of similar models, but the market could ultimately decide its final value. For context, a Rolex once owned by Paul Newman sold for $17.8 million in 2017, a record that still stands.

Adding a personal touch, Coppola’s collection includes a Chronomètre à Résonance, a gift from his late wife, Eleanor. This watch carries an emotional value as well as an estimated auction worth of $120,000 to $240,000.

The other watches range from a Patek Philippe World Time to a Blancpain Minute Repeater, showcasing Coppola’s discerning taste for pieces with rich histories. He began collecting watches around 2008 and has focused on acquiring models tied to significant craftsmanship.

“It’s clear he cherishes the stories behind these watches,” Boutros notes. “Just like filmmaking, he seeks depth and meaning in his collection.”

Overall, this auction serves a dual purpose: offering a glimpse into Coppola’s artistic journey and helping him tackle the financial challenges following Megalopolis. As he said in Megadoc, sometimes artists must risk everything to create something profound.

For more insights on unique watches and auction trends, you can explore Phillips’ official site.

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