Tuesday, June 12, 2018

The Strange Case Of The Steve McQueen Submariner




The Strange Case Of

The Steve McQueen Submariner?



"Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t." —Mark Twain [Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World.]

As seen above, Mark Twain once pointed out that 'reality is stranger than fiction', and that is certainly the case with this story. Just when I thought things couldn't get any more bizarre, they did!

BTW, as I write this, the song Axel F from "Beverly Hills Cop" just started playing on my computer, which is probably the best possible soundtrack that is perfectly on-point for this story. So you may want to hit the play button and listen to it as you continue reading. Loren Janes ironically was a stuntman in the Eddie Murphy movie named, Beverly Hills Copy, according to his daughter, Erika Janes...




If you are reading this, chances are you are already familiar with the story I began writing on June 5th, named "Another Steve McQueen Submariner?"

When I first began working on that story I believed the narrative put forth by Phillips press release named "Phillips To Sell Steve McQueen's Rolex Submariner",  as well as Forbes.com article named, "Exclusive: The Secret History of Steve McQueen's Rolex Submariner.

Being a huge Steve McQueen fan, I thought this was going to be another great chapter I could add to my story titled, "Profiles In Coolness: Steve McQueen, The King Of Cool."

I am typically a very trusting person, but as I began exploring the details in the Loren Janes Submariner story, I noticed what appeared to be gaping inconsistencies. I called my great pal, Stan Barrett on the phone and asked, "Did you know Loren Janes?", to which Stan simply replied, "Submariner!" I believe Stan responded like this since we are both huge Rolex fans.

I read the provenance letter from the story to Stan and he started poking holes in it. Stan knew Loren Janes well and pointed out he strongly believed that Loren was not in many of the movies enumerated in the provenance letter. Stan put me in touch which many people who had worked on those movies, and sure enough, Stan was correct.

On June 6, I interviewed Michael Eisenberg, the current consigner of the watch to the Phillips Auction House in great detail. I also interviewed Loren Janes daughter regarding the history, and she shared some profound details with me. I even spoke with Chad McQueen, who is Steve McQueen's son about this story.

I have also been interviewing many other people regarding this story, and I have to share with you that I am completely stunned by the sheer amount of new information and evidence pouring in. This evidence supports and contradicts all sides of this story. 

This story reminds me of a crazy mystery story. It's like Columbo meets The Hardy Boys, meets Sherlock Homes, meets Rockford Files, meets Perry Masson, meets Daniel Steel. Choc full of intriguing characters, plot-twists, and cliffhangers.


As I write this, the whole story would appear to be a cliffhanger of sorts, so why don't I simply present all the evidence I have collected from both sides of the story and let you, the reader make your own determination? As previously mentioned new evidence and witnesses are pouring in. So quickly in fact, I don't think it would be responsible for me to share what I have unearthed without being able to share ALL the facts. In other words, it is still as much of a cliffhanger for me as it is for you...

I am also surprised by how quickly this story developed, and every time I think it is concluding more intriguing events change the game. This much I can promise you: As soon as I conclude my investigation, I will present all the facts from both sides and let you draw your own conclusion. 

The adrenaline is definitely pumping like it would in any great Steve McQueen movie. I find it ironic that 38 years after Steve McQueen passed away, his legacy is still leading us on an epic high-speed chase.