The piece disappeared from the artist’s collection managed by his widow Yoko Ono, who gave the exclusive piece to the former Beatles in the 1980s.
A watch that belonged to John Lennon (1940 – 1980) ended up in Swiss and American courts in a million-dollar dispute over the item, an American magazine article reveals The New Yorker this Monday, 5pm.
The Patek model 2499, customized for the former Beatles, was given to the musician by Yoko Ono in the 80s. In 2006, Yoko’s then driver, Koral Karsan, was arrested for an extortion attempt against the artist and, during the investigation, also accused of stealing her watch.
In 2014 the watch was sold by Karsan to an Italian, in charge of negotiating it with companies that purchase valuable objects in Europe. The watch was then negotiated with a German company for 600 thousand euros.
Yoko only learned of the theft in 2014, when the Italian also attempted to negotiate the watch with a Swiss pawning company, which contacted the artist’s lawyers.
Yoko was surprised by the theft
For Yoko, the gift was still kept at home, in the United States, inside a box with the musician’s objects.
On the back, the watch has the words “(Just like) Starting Over” or “(it’s like) Starting Over” – referring to a brief separation between the couple and the inspiration for the song of the same name.
From 2015 onwards, the Italian and Yoko battled in American and Swiss courts over possession of the watch, which was kept safely in a safe in Geneva, Switzerland.
In 2022, the Swiss court ruled that the watch belongs to Yoko.
The investigations also found 86 of Lennon’s objects in the Italian’s possession, ranging from notebooks with notes to a pair of glasses.
The investigation revealed that the Italian was aware of the illicit origin of the objects. Yoko’s former assistant stated during the investigation that he had been given the watch by the artist, which she denied.
According to the report, a Lennon watch could fetch up to $40 million at auction. Yoko purchased the work in New York two months before the artist was murdered by stalker Mark David Chapman in 1980.
The accused can still appeal. If the court rejects the appeals, the clock will return to Yoko. “It’s important to have him back because of everything our family has been through,” Sean Lennon, Lennon’s son, told the North American publication.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
