Supreme Court Ruled Yoko Ono As Rightful Owner of Gifted John Lennon Watch

Switzerland’s Supreme Court has officially declared Yoko Ono the rightful owner of a rare Patek Philippe 2499 watch she gifted to John Lennon just two months before his tragic death in 1980.

For Lennon’s birthday that year, Ono purchased the watch for $25,000 from Tiffany & Co., a price that would be roughly $100,000 today. She had the back engraved with the heartfelt message: “(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER, LOVE YOKO. 10 • 9 • 1980. N. Y. C.” After Lennon’s passing, Ono locked the watch away in their apartment, where it remained undisturbed for decades—until it mysteriously disappeared.

The Theft and Blackmail Plot

In 2007, Koral Karsan, a former employee of Ono and Lennon, was accused of blackmailing Ono and was deported to Turkey after being charged with grand larceny. Sean Lennon, John and Yoko’s son, revealed the emotional toll of the theft: “He took advantage of a widow at a vulnerable time,” Sean told The New Yorker. “Of all the incidents of people stealing things from my parents, this one is the most painful.”

Among the stolen items was the Patek Philippe watch, now estimated to be worth millions. For years, it remained missing, despite other stolen belongings being recovered.

The Court’s Final Decision

Thanks to investigative work, including reporting from The New Yorker, the watch was tracked through various European auctions to an unidentified man who claimed he purchased it legally in 2014. However, Switzerland’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ono, declaring the watch had been taken illegally. The court stated:

“There was no evidence to show that Yoko Ono intended to donate to the driver something as special as the watch.”

Now, this priceless keepsake, which holds deep sentimental value for Ono, is set to be returned, marking the end of a years-long saga filled with loss, betrayal, and justice.