An article by men’s luxury magazine GQ in 2020 describes “the legend” of John Lennon’s priceless Patek Philippe 2499, which is thought to have been stolen after his death by his wife Yoko Ono’s chauffer.Â
The perpetual calendar watch is reported to have been given by Ms Ono to The Beatles star on his 40th birthday, just two months before he was murdered in 1980 outside his home in New York City.
Lennon was pictured with a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 2499 in that year (pictured above).
It is said to have fallen into the hands of Ms Ono’s driver, who then allegedly sold it.
Now that watch, often described as a grail watch by collectors hoping it might come to market, appears to have been located and is now subject to a court battle in Geneva that will establish its rightful owner.
If a years-long legal battle over the watch is resolved, it could pave the way to an auction sale that could see it selling for between $5 million and $10 million, experts say.
A key step in establishing the legal owner of the watch came in June, when a Geneva court ruled that it belongs to Ms Ono.
An Italian watch collector, who argues he bought the piece in good faith, is appealing.
That collector, who lives in Hong Kong, bought the watch for CHF 600,000, he claims in documents lodged with the Geneva court.
He wanted to have it valued in 2014, and Ms Ono was contacted to discuss its provenance.
That approach led to the battle over its ownership that has continued to this day.
If either Ms Ono or the collector legally establish ownership of the watch, and its link to Mr Lennon just before his murder, it could then become one of the most important auction lots in the watch world since the sale of Paul Newman’s Daytona for $17 million.
Its provenance, and the ensuing mystery about its whereabouts and ownership, will have collectors licking their lips at the prospect of acquiring it.
Even without the connection to The Beatles legend, the rare ref. 2499 commands stellar prices at auction.
Even in the cooling market of 2022, Sotheby’s in Hong Kong sold a pink gold piece with French language days and dates for HK$60.3 million (US$7.7 million) at its Spring sale, setting a new auction record for the model.
Who did the Hong Kong collector buy the watch from?
Thank, that is what I wanted to know. Who did he buy the watch from and what gave them the right to sell it?
A reputable dealer in Switzerland lol
A tea leaf! Dodgy feral dog vermin creature who half inched it off JL !
A watch worth $10 million? That’s ridiculous!
Great question!
Something’s very, very fishy.
He bought from the driver, who stole it off John Lennon
Someone who bought it from someone who fenced it after it was stolen. Oss.
I think international law has provisions on the trafficking of stolen goods. Which should bestow ownership back to John Lennon’s estate.
You need to get the watch back to his wife what’s wrong to keep it
The watch should go back to his wife and his children anybody to keep some like that not a good man or woman
If greedy Ono gets it, she should give it to John Lennon’s first-born Son. After what she did, it’s the LEAST she could do!
Does anybody really know what time it is?
Or for that matter who’s watch it is!
Why isn’t this being heard in NY city’s Probate Court? Lennon was killed in NYC. Either Ms. Ono gave the driver the watch or he robbed the dead.
Surely the fairest way is to refund the cost of the watch to the guy who bought it from the possible forthcoming auction sale.
Nice question Mr Clerizo.
And is he still alive?
Is someone tracing its history back to the original thief?
The term “good faith” does not apply to this type of acquisition. If you’re not sure, don’t buy it.
This entails a philosophical question of Moral Value.
I wish Yoko the best of life.
Imagine
“Fell into the hands of Ms Ono’s driver…” Good catch!
Except for the statute of limitations, or death, someone ought to do gaol time!
Exactly. The venue should be moved to NY, the last known legit site of ownership. How did it leave Lennon? A gift? Donating more than clothes? You cannot claim ownership via theft. Return the money to the so called pending (wanna be) owner and let tge next guy reclaim his money.
Imagine no possessions…..
Lennon the hypocrite.
Nice question Mr Clerizo.
And is he still alive?
Is someone tracing its history back to the original thief?
The term “good faith” does not apply to this type of acquisition. If you’re not sure, don’t buy it.
This entails a philosophical question of Moral Value.
I wish Yoko good luck!
What happened to ” no need for greed, or hunger, no possessions too” ? Sounds like Mr Lennon was not only an angry drunk, but a a hypocrite too.
A bloke at the pub
Ha! The report just ignored that pertinent question, didn’t it?
Good question. Probably NOT the chauffeur.
I sure would like to wear that .
Good question! Perhaps the driver!?
Imagine no possessions.. I wonder if you can..
Really..?!?!?
You’re sounding like Mark Chapman now!! PLs withdraw your comment.
The song is about Imagining and creating in general, it’s about ideology,,,,,and so much more!
But at the end of the day it’s a song! He’s not forcing his thoughts on anyone, he’s wondering what the world and people would be like IF his thoughts were to be implemented.
He’s dreaming about it……
Imagine gifting $7 million dollar watch to the one who “imagines no possessions”.
It seems to me that the watch should be returned to its rightful owner, namely Ms. Ono. As Mr. Lennon’s spouse, and the person who actually purchased the watch, it should be returned to her.
Patek Philippe and other high end firms maintain extensive records regarding timepiece provenance and original ownership. In this case, these documents should prove the case. The fact remains that unless “the driver” can provide “clear and convincing” proof that he was actually gifted the watch by Ms. Ono, case closed. The collector should have made his due diligence checks with PP before paying $ 600,000! Patek’s records are similar, and actually better, that a title to a car. That way, if a stolen watch is somehow brought in for service, hopefully it can be resolved to the benefit of the true owner.
Years ago, Mr. Charlie Sheen had a prized Patek stolen from him. I think the watch was worth about $ 300,000. To Sheen, he wasn’t upset so much about the money, he just wanted his watch back! Hopefully, he will have it recovered eventually thanks to Mr. Stern’s archives.
Yes it should go to Julian Lennon. Yoko deliberately kept things away from Julian and sold them. Including personal letters between John and Julian. Julian didn’t want those to get in the hands of tabloids. Paul McCartney was very instrumental in helping Julian track down a lot of his father’s things. I saw all this on a talk show Julian was on. He is still tracking down his father’s things. Good luck Julian.
I couldn’t figure out how to edit!! LOL
I didn’t mean that Yoko sold the watch when she sold a lot of other things to collectors. That watch meant way to much to her. It was the last gift she gave to John before he was murdered. I think she should put it in her will to Julian. She’s 90 years old. She should be able to enjoy it for awhile.
You aren’t very nice. RIP JOHN LENNON
She gave the dude a much cheaper watch. That watch was only two months old and meant quite a bit to her after the assassination of her husband John Lennon. Everything was inventoried by a Notary and sealed in a bag by that Notary.
The Murderer was the Gardener ! The Gardener is always the Mörder . Everyone knows that!
The Chouffer found the watch in the Vegigarden and thought it had grown there. But little did he know, it didn’t fit his wrist -Twist and shout !