Elvis Presley’s Omega Watch Purchased at Tiffany to be Auctioned by Phillips
The King of Rock and Roll had an eye for watches and one of his historic timepieces was an engraved Omega given to him by his record label, RCA Records. That watch will be one of the highlights of the Phillips Bacs & Russo Geneva auction on May 12 and 13.
It is the first time the watch will be offered in a public sale, according to the auction house. Its estimate is approximately $53,250 – $106,500.
To celebrate Elvis’s accomplishment of selling 75 million records worldwide, RCA Records arranged a charity event and concert headlined by Elvis at the Hotel Claridge, Memphis, Tenn., on Feb. 25, 1961. The event was also held to reestablish Elvis as a performer after serving two years in the U.S. Army. Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington, who attended the performance, proclaimed the date “Elvis Presley Day.” The record company presented the singer with the Omega watch purchased at Tiffany, commemorating the 75-million-record milestone. It was accompanied by a plaque engraved with the accomplishment, which is on display at Graceland—Elvis Presley’s former estate in Memphis that now serves as a museum.
The 18k white gold watch houses a manually wound Omega caliber 510. The silver dial with small seconds hand at 6 o’clock has the “Tiffany & Co.” retailer signature beneath the Omega logo at 12 o’clock. The bezel is set with 44 round brilliant diamonds. The caseback is engraved with the inscription: “To Elvis, 75 Million Records, RCA Victor, 12-25-60.”
The watch will be sold with certificates of authenticity from the Elvis Presley museum and a book titled Elvis, by Dave Marsh, which includes images of Elvis Presley wearing this watch.
The current owner, who is unnamed, received the watch from his uncle, who apparently met or knew Elvis. As the story goes, the uncle expressed his admiration for Elvis’s Omega. Elvis spotted the uncle’s diamond studded Hamilton watch and proposed a trade, and they quickly exchanged timepieces. Elvis is known to have given away some of his watches and a small number of these have appeared at auctions.
“No other Elvis Presley-owned watch has been previously offered on the market that marked such a significant achievement in his career,” Phillips said in a statement. “The incredible provenance of this historic timepiece is furthermore confirmed by photos of Presley wearing the watch at the charity concert, as well as certificates of authenticity from the Elvis Presley Museum.”
