John Lennon’s Patek Philippe Ref. 2499

The Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 worn by John Lennon is one of the most iconic wristwatches ever connected to a music legend. This rare perpetual calendar chronograph was given to Lennon by his wife Yoko Ono as a birthday gift on October 9, 1980, when he turned 40 — just two months before his assassination in New York City. The Ref. 2499, produced in extremely limited numbers (only about 349 units between 1950 and 1985), is prized for its perpetual calendar, chronograph functions, and exceptional craftsmanship. Lennon’s version was purchased at Tiffany & Co. in New York and had a personal engraving on the caseback: “(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER LOVE YOKO 10·9·1980 N.Y.C,” referencing a song he recorded in the same period. After Lennon’s death, the watch disappeared for decades and was stolen before resurfacing at auction. After a long legal battle, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court ruled in November 2024 that the watch rightfully belongs to Yoko Ono.