Watch Once Stolen from John Lennon Rightfully Belongs to Widow Yoko Ono, Court Rules

Mar. 15, 2025

Yoko Ono and John Lennon in 1968.Photo:Susan Wood/Getty

Portrait of Japanese-born artist and musician Yoko Ono and British musican and artist John Lennon , December 1968.

Susan Wood/Getty

Yoko Onohas officially been ruled the rightful owner of one ofJohn Lennon’s final birthday gifts.

On Thursday, Nov. 14, a Swiss court ruled that the yellow gold Patek Philippe 2499 wristwatch the Japanese multimedia artist and singer, 91, bought for her husband when he turned 40, does not belong to the person who later purchased it at an auction,Reuters reported.

Ono purchased the gift for $25,000 in 1980, months before Lennon’s assassination. Though that amount would equal roughly $95,500 today, it now holds an estimated value of 4 million Swiss Francs ($4.51 million).

John Lennon with his wife Yoko Ono, May 1971.Dennis Stone/Mirrorpix/Getty

Former member of The Beatles pop group John Lennon with his wife Yoko Ono at Heathrow Airport, London as they pass through from Trinidad on their way to Palma, Majorca to see Justices about the custody of Yoko’s seven year old daughter Kyoko. May 1971.

Dennis Stone/Mirrorpix/Getty

Engraved in the timepiece is a sweet message from the Beatles singer’s widow that reads: “(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER LOVE YOKO 10·9·1980 N.Y.C .”

Before Lennon was shot and killed in December 1980 outside of his expansive apartment complex at New York City’s Dakota Building, he recorded a demo of a new song he’d written called “Life Begins at 40.”

That same year, he’d also begun working on his first album in five years, entitledDouble Fantasy. The lead single was called “(Just Like) Starting Over.” Lennon and Ono had worked on the song together, Reuters said, citing court documents.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 1969.Fox Photos/Getty

John Lennon and Yoko Ono pictured during filming of the promotional film for ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’.

Fox Photos/Getty

Per Reuters, the Italian man who previously purchased Lennon’s watch could not be reached for comment, because his identity was censored in filings. However, it was said that he had been a resident of China.

In addition to the rare Patek Philippe 2499, Ono had also purchased a couple of other sentimental gifts for her former husband’s milestone birthday before his death.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, June 1969.Bettmann/Getty

Yoko and John…Beatle John Lennon and Yoko Ono, his bride of three months at the time this photo was made in Montreal in June 1969, pose in bed. His first solo album at the time featured songs telling of his love for Yoko.

Bettmann/Getty

Ono bought the “Here Comes the Sun” singer an American flag lapel pin made of diamonds and rubies — a tribute to the English icon’s hard-won immigration battle. While the exact price of the pin is unknown, it’s rumored to have cost Ono upwards of $75,000 (or $287,000 in 2024).

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Together, Lennon and Ono were parents to one son,Sean Tara Ono. The “All You Need Is Love” singer also shared an older son,Julian Charles John, with his ex-wife Cynthia Lennon. Ono also has a daughter,Kyoko Chan Cox, with ex-husband Anthony Cox.

source: people.com

Watch Once Stolen from John Lennon Rightfully Belongs to Widow Yoko Ono, Court Rules

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