RITROVATO: L'Orologio Scomparso Di John Lennon

Mysteries have always fascinated us, at any age, even more so when the protagonists are characters of a certain caliber, such as the legendary John Lennon. A few days ago, thanks to Arthur Tuchot, one of the greatest mysteries of collectivism came to be, which gives a name to the place where his most important watch was hidden. Make yourself comfortable because it is a rather intricate story. Before going to tell you how we got to the story today, we must tell you everything that happened before, between legal battles and the passing of the witness. We want to specify that in some parts there are assumptions, because names and places are put in the judicial acts. It is 1980, we are in the United States, more precisely in New York. On October 9, John Lennon would have turned 40 and Yoko Ono has a special gift in mind. He bought a Patek Philippe 2499 from Tiffany & Co. and puts a phrase of their latest song in the back of the watch. On October 9 he gives the watch to John and to testify to this occasion there are only two shots. In one of these there is him with a denim shirt and a knitted tie while pointing at the watch, and in addition there is a pin with the American flag. The latter was always bought by Yoko Ono from Tiffany & Co. and was a yellow gold flag with rubies, sapphires and diamonds. It is thought to be a symbol to celebrate the achievement of citizenship a few years earlier. Returning to the watch, the 2499 is one of the most sought-after references by collectors, but even at the time it was the apex of the Patek catalog. It is a chronograph combined with a perpetual calendar and this union of complications has then become a trademark of Patek. This reference has undergone several changes, from the first in production in 1951 to the last in 1985, in fact there are four distinct series. The one belonging to John Lennon is supposed to be the third because a phrase was engraved on the case, while in the fourth series there is a transparent sapphire case. There are several models signed by the third and fourth series, but the one worn by John does not seem to have the Tiffany & Co. signature at 6 o'clock. On December 8, 1980, less than two months after his birthday, he was murdered by a maniac outside his residence in New York. The story is also reported in the court documents that have allowed to reveal the mystery of this watch. In fact, it is read as the husband of the heiress was murdered outside his home. This is where this so intricate story comes from, between private car owners, auction houses and collectors. After Lennon's death, an inventory of more than 1,000 pages is redacted, in which all the objects he had owned are mentioned. It is also mentioned that they are kept in numbered and sealed boxes. The redacted text specifies that Yoko Ono decided to recover the 2499, but it was the only object authorized by her to leave that inventory. In the following years he lived in an apartment where he had a locked room where he kept some diaries and this watch. Here comes another character of the story, which is mentioned in the court documents with the letter E. It is a private driver who served Yoko Ono from 1995 to 2006 and with whom there was a great relationship of trust. It was a very close relationship, in fact he was one of the few people to have the keys to that apartment. In 2006, however, everything is interrupted, as the driver E threatens to reveal to the world a alleged relationship with the widow. He is denounced and brought back to Turkey, as his visa was about to expire. But what did the watch do in the meantime? This is the most important question. During the 11-year service, more than 80 objects belonging to Enron, including the watch, were confiscated. According to what was reported, all these objects were given to a friend in Turkey in 2010. In 2013, this friend had the watch evaluated in Germany. In October 2013, a document is redacted in front of a notary who attests that the driver, Mr. E, had received the watch from Yoko Ono and that the wife was a witness. In 2017, he declares under oath that he had received these objects from Yoko Ono, but since they had never been requested back, he had denied to be the owner. In 2013, the negotiations for the sale of this legendary watch begin, and the auction house begins to do its due diligence. The lawyer specifies how, despite the statements in front of the notary, they could not confirm the right of ownership of the driver. However, there is an agreement that takes these statements for real, with the reserve that Yoko Ono could claim ownership of this watch. Again in 2014, the collector decides to bring the watch to Geneva and have it evaluated by another auction house. The latter, however, decides to contact Yoko Ono's lawyer, mentioning that the watch was in fact in their possession. However, the lawyer replies that it was not possible, because the watch had never left the United States, and from here the theft was discovered. According to New York law, anyone who commits a theft is forced to report it within three years of discovery. So they advise against taking any legal action in the United States, because it would have led to absolutely nothing. In 2015, Yoko Ono decides to claim ownership of this watch through his lawyer in Geneva, but the collector rejects any statement. And from here on, the 2499 is handed over to the lawyer, waiting for any judicial verdict. Lennon's wife is heard as a witness and clarifies the whole story a bit. In fact, after her husband's death, she had decided to give significant objects to her collaborators, a bit like recognition. Among these, there was obviously the driver, who was told to take a watch, but not the 2499, because it had an inestimable value and was also the last gift. Throughout the trial, it is proven that the driver was not in good faith. In fact, even the friend who had received it in 2010 doubted its origin, he thought it was stolen. That said, it is claimed that the driver had indebtedly taken possession of the watch and all 86 objects, and is sentenced together with the friend of theft and recitation. In the meantime, the collector, owner of the 2499 by John Lennon, still considers himself the owner, because Yoko Ono in fact had never filed a complaint. At the same time, however, the investigations that were held in Germany had confirmed that the watch had in fact been stolen, so it was not his property. After several appeals, all rejected by the judicial authorities of Geneva, it is revealed that Yoko Ono is the only owner of this 2499. In the verbal of July 7, 2023, it is read as if neither party denies that the watch is still under custody with deposit to guarantee from the collector's lawyer. So we wonder now where this watch is and what end it will have. In the final notes it is also read as if the two parties do not agree on the value of the watch. The collector thinks it is worth 600,000 euros and Yoko Ono gives a value of 4 million. This, however, is not relevant to the cause because legal expenses have already been set. What do you think of this story? Will it ever be put on auction? Let me know in the comments and subscribe to the channel so you don't miss the next video.