In the world of horology, there are timepieces, and then there are legends. John Lennon’s Patek Philippe 2499 perpetual calendar chronograph falls firmly into the latter category. Before his tragic passing in 1980, Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono, bestowed upon him this remarkable watch as a 40th birthday gift. Fast forward to today, and the watch has re-emerged in the watchmaking haven of Geneva, after a mysterious disappearance that spanned several years.
The plot thickens. The watch in question is currently in the custody of lawyers representing an Italian watch collector. It appears this collector originally acquired the timepiece from a now-defunct German auction house. However, the twist in this tale lies in the official documents from the Geneva court, which have ruled in favor of Ono as the rightful owner of the watch. Cue the legal tug-of-war, as the collector is now appealing this decision.
How did this precious artifact go missing in the first place? Legend has it that a former driver of Ono may have been the culprit. In the world of watch aficionados, the Patek Philippe 2499 is the holy grail, a priceless treasure. Adding to the mystique, the watch bears an engraving that hints at a song composed by the couple during a period of separation.
As Marc Montagne puts it in his book, “Invest in Watches: The Art of Watch Collecting,” this is “undoubtedly one of the most-sought-after watches which the watch world has been hoping to see.” And speaking of hopes, Ono’s legal team has ventured a ballpark figure, valuing the watch at a cool $4.5 million USD.
Whether it’s the ticking of time or the cadence of a melody, this story continues to resonate with intrigue. Stay tuned for the next chapter in the saga of John Lennon’s lost and found Patek Philippe.
