Auction for watches connected to the 'Titanic' movie and wreck site

In December, two watches connected to the "Titanic" movie and wreckage site will be available for bidding during Sotheby's "Significant Timepieces" auction.

On April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean after colliding with an iceberg, resulting in a tragic outcome.

The ship's wreckage was discovered by Dr. Robert Ballard and his team on Sept. 1, 1985, at a depth of approximately 12,600 feet beneath the ocean's surface off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

Fewer than 250 people have seen the Titanic wreckage with their own eyes since its discovery.

An individual who frequently visited the Titanic wreckage site is Alfred "Al" Giddings.

Giddings, an accomplished underwater cinematographer, gained fame for his work on the Oscar-winning "Titanic" film, which he co-produced and directed as the underwater photography lead.

In his lifetime, Giddings, famous for films such as "The Deep," "For Your Eyes Only," and "The Abyss," made 17 dives to the Titanic wreckage site.

According to Sotheby's press release, the two Rolexes from his collection will be auctioned for the first time.

A steel 1680 Submariner watch will be among the items for sale.

Giddings previously owned a stainless steel, waterproof, automatic wristwatch that was worn on over a dozen dives to the Titanic, according to Sotheby's press release.

Another watch to be auctioned is a gold 1680 Submariner.

Giddings and actor Bill Paxton both wore the yellow gold wristwatch in the "Titanic" film.

The movie featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet rapidly gained acclaim as a timeless classic. It garnered numerous Academy Awards, including the best picture award in 1998.

In the movie, Paxton portrayed Brock Lovett, a treasure seeker on a quest to find the RMS Titanic.

In large part, the film is a flashback, while Paxton's role is set in the present day.

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Paxton and Cameron filmed their visit to the Titanic wreck for the 2003 documentary "Ghosts of the Abyss."

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On Dec. 5, the public will have the opportunity to view the watches that will be auctioned off at Sotheby's York Avenue galleries in New York.