In a major victory for Yoko Ono, Switzerland’s top court has rejected an Italian watch dealer’s appeal to claim ownership of John Lennon’s iconic Patek Philippe reference 2499 watch. The verdict is final, marking the end of a years-long legal battle over the timepiece that was originally a 40th birthday gift from Ono to her late husband.
Collectors consider the Patek Philippe 2499 a true “grail” watch, and rumors of the Lennon 2499 hidden in a Geneva safe have circulated for years. That is, until the story broke last year when journalist Jay Fielden dove deep into the watch’s convoluted history for The New Yorker.
A Sentimental Gift
In 1980, just two months before his tragic assassination, Lennon celebrated his 40th birthday. To mark the occasion, Ono purchased the rare Patek Philippe for $25,000—the equivalent of $95,500 today. She then engraved a sweet message on the caseback: “(Just Like)/Starting Over/Love Yoko/10·9·1980/N.Y.C.”
At the time, Lennon had been working on his first album in five years, Double Fantasy, which included the lead single “(Just Like) Starting Over”—a song he produced with Ono and Jack Douglas. The watch represented a pivotal moment, as Lennon had recently emerged from a period of musical hiatus and reconciled with his wife.
A Stolen Treasure
Ono tragically lost the watch to theft in 2005. It then exchanged hands, moving through Europe and passing through two different auction houses before landing in Switzerland, where an unidentified Italian man—referred to as “Mr. A” in legal documents—claimed he had legally purchased it in 2014 for €600,000.
But the Swiss Federal Court has now ruled that the watch rightfully belongs to Yoko Ono. The court stated that there was “no evidence to show that Yoko Ono intended to donate to the driver something as special as the watch, engraved with an inscription, that she had given to John Lennon two months before his death.” In other words, despite his purchase, Mr. A cannot legitimately claim ownership of the stolen watch.
A Coveted Grail
Should the Lennon 2499 ever sell publicly, it would likely become the most expensive watch in the world. Estimates suggest it could fetch upwards of 4 million Swiss Francs (over $4.5 million). But for Ono, the watch’s true value lies in its sentimental significance, representing a pivotal moment in her relationship with Lennon.
As Fielden noted in his New Yorker piece, the Patek Philippe symbolizes the couple’s reconciliation and Lennon’s creative resurgence before his untimely death. After a period of separation, Ono gifted it to him and engraved it in the same month that Lennon released Double Fantasy, an album that captured their iconic kiss on the cover and featured several songs dedicated to Ono.
The End Of A Legal Battle
Today’s ruling brings an end to the years-long legal battle over the watch. The Italian dealer, known as Julian de Simone, must immediately return the watch to Ono. De Simone acknowledged his role as “Mr. A” in an Instagram video and promised to share the “full story” soon.
While the financial value of the Lennon 2499 is staggering, its true significance lies in the emotion and history it represents. For Yoko Ono, having the watch returned to her ownership is a meaningful victory, allowing her to rightfully decide its future. Perhaps she will choose to share it with the world, giving watch enthusiasts a chance to witness this truly remarkable timepiece in person.
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