Faux hacking isn't good for the movement, but not usually damaging to the movement. The situation is more serious if the watch is a Tourbillon - the Tourbillon will not take to faux hacking and reversing very nicely (since the Tourbillon cage itself can't spin backwards).
But I don't see anything wrong here with him selling a work of art. I'm sure it hurts him inside to sell this piece that he had to petition for the privilege to acquire and he's not showing his sadness that he's selling it (he is an actor). Whatever the reason is to him selling it - there could be m