John Lennon, left an indelible mark on 20th-century culture as a musician and peace activist. However, one of the most intriguing mysteries of his life involves the disappearance of his rare Patek Philippe 2499 watch.
Unlike Lennon’s typical understated style of round glasses and simple clothing, the Patek Philippe 2499 stood out as an exceptional luxury piece. Made between 1952 and 1985, the intricate watch features an 18-karat gold casing, a calendar, and a moon-phase dial—all hallmarks of Swiss horology. Only a few hundred were made, and in 2023, a similar model sold for a record-breaking $3.88 million at Sotheby’s.
Yoko Ono gifted the watch to Lennon for his 40th birthday in 1980, shortly after they reconciled following a brief separation. The couple, living in New York City, had just recorded the Double Fantasy album. Purchased from the Genevan retailer Gubelin, celebrated Lennon’s milestone birthday alongside their son Sean’s fifth birthday on October 9.
Lennon was assassinated two months later, outside his Manhattan apartment. In the wake of his passing, Ono focused on preserving Lennon’s memory, establishing memorials like Strawberry Fields in Central Park, which serves as a gathering place for fans.
All of Lennon’s possessions were catalogued in an inventory and stored in the apartments that Ono retained. For decades, it was presumed the watch remained safe there, tucked away in a cupboard in a locked room. However, in September 2014, Ono’s attorney received a call from Christie’s auction house, informing her that a man intended to sell the watch. To her shock, Ono discovered it was missing from its supposed safe location.
John Lennon’s Patek Philippe. Photo: Auctionata
Ono filed a claim in October 2015, asserting she had no idea when the watch was removed or who took it. Suspicion eventually fell on Koral Karsan, a former chauffeur and trusted member of Ono’s inner circle, who had previously attempted to extort her. Their relationship soured in 2006, culminating in Karsan’s arrest for threats against Ono and Sean, leading to his eventual deportation to Turkey.
Years later, evidence surfaced linking Karsan to Lennon’s missing property. During the bankruptcy proceedings of a Berlin auction house, 86 items belonging to Lennon were discovered, traced back to a man named Erhan G. He claimed to have acquired these items from Karsan, including the Patek 2499, which was privately sold to an Italian collector living in Hong Kong. This collector, self-described as “more of a Rolling Stones man” and attempted to sell the watch through Christie’s, prompting them to alert Ono as part of their authentication process.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono, on November 2, 1980. Photo: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images
In November 2024, the watch, long at the center of an ongoing lawsuit, was determined by a Swiss court to rightfully belong to Ono. “It is undisputed that ownership of the watch passed to Yoko Ono by inheritance after John Lennon’s death,” the court ruled. “Secondly, [a lower court] was allowed to assume without arbitrariness that the watch was stolen by the former chauffeur and, conversely, that there was nothing to suggest Yoko Ono would have wanted to give the chauffeur this unique piece.”
For the past decade, the watch has been hidden in Geneva. Ono has valued it between $2 million and $4 million, although experts suggest it could sell for ten times this amount due to its historical significance. As dealer Eric Wind stated, “It’s possibly the most valuable wristwatch on Earth.”
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