{"product_id":"elton-john-owned-gifted-wristwatch-1970s-private-issue-swiss-watch","title":"Elton John Owned \u0026 Gifted Wristwatch - 1970's Private Issue Swiss Watch","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost celebrity watches trace their connection through association. Far fewer can be tied directly to the individual himself - objects he personally chose, owned, and gave away. This is one of those rare examples.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCreated in the early 1970s, at the height of Elton John’s meteoric rise, this watch was part of a very small group he personally ordered to give as gifts to those closest to him - family and friends within his inner circle. It was never a retail item and was never intended for public sale. Pieces like this were expressions of personality and generosity, shared quietly among those who lived within his world as it was unfolding in real time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRather than simply commemorating Elton John, this watch represents something he chose, handled, and gave away. Owning it is not just owning memorabilia; it is owning an object that originated from him, tied directly to a moment when his identity, image, and cultural impact were being defined. More than a celebrity collectible, it feels like a personal artifact from Elton John’s inner world during one of the most culturally defining periods of his career.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy this point in his career, Elton John had already become one of the defining artists of his generation, with a run of landmark songs such as “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” establishing him as an international star. His blend of musical talent, theatrical performance, and unmistakable personal style made him one of the most recognizable figures in popular culture, a status he would go on to sustain for decades, earning multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and recognition as one of the best-selling artists of all time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe dial reflects that identity in a more personal, lighthearted way. Rather than depicting a specific performance or moment, it presents a stylized caricature of Elton, complete with his signature look, capturing the spirit of his larger-than-life persona. With his arms forming the hands of the watch, the design turns timekeeping into a playful extension of his image, reinforcing both his individuality and the sense of fun that defined his public presence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIts band continues to the lighthearted theme fitting together with a structure we have never seen before and held on the wrist by the friction of the plastic secured by a band holder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe watch itself, powered by a Swiss mechanical movement, serves as the foundation, but it is the story that defines it. Surviving examples are scarce, and even fewer surface with this level of preservation. For a collector, it offers something increasingly difficult to find: a tangible, deeply personal connection to an icon, not through endorsement, branding, or mass-market memorabilia, but through direct ownership and intent. Its visual presence and unusual construction give it an immediacy that transcends traditional celebrity collectibles, allowing it to stand equally as a piece of design, music history, and personal provenance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is all original, and its condition remains very good for its age with naturally toning of the plastic. The dial artwork is vivid and intact and the unique construction of the case and bracelet well preserved. It stands today as both a functional timepiece and a rare artifact from one of the most dynamic periods in modern music history. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur Master Watchmaking team have tested and timed the watch and performed any needed servicing making it ready for immediate enjoyment. We have not done anything to the outside of it - we left it just as we acquired it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTaken together, it is the kind of object that becomes increasingly difficult to replicate in today’s world: personal, visually unforgettable, closely tied to a defining cultural figure, and preserved from the very era in which that legend was being created. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIncluded with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function, a full-page custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate. Also accompanying it is a Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance from a well-known auction house.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eConnoisseur of Time's Renowned Celebrity Collection:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis watch is part of our Celebrity Collection of watches that has been featured in GQ, Revolution Watch, Europa Star, JCK, Hampton's Magazine, Gotham Magazine, Vegas Magazine, Silicon Valley magazine and many others. eBay recently partnered with us for an exclusive, special sale for seven of the watches.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe collection has been composed of 135 watches and clocks owned or worn by 67 iconic celebrities and public figures. It may be the largest current collection of celebrity-owned watches in the world. It is constantly changing and is currently headlined by timepieces owned by some of the most legendary Hollywood actors and actresses, musicians, comedians, and entertainers:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe King, Elvis Presley. (Just sold)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe King of Pop, Michael Jackson. (Just sold)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe King of Comedy, Jerry Lewis.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Artist Formerly Known as Prince. (Just sold)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePresident Jimmy Carter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHollywood icons Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Steve Martin, Red Skelton, Steve McQueen, Martin Sheen, Cicely Tyson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Burt Reynolds, Laurence Olivier, James Arness, Betty White, Olivia Newton-John, Bob Hope, Greta Garbo, Raquel Welch, Mickey Rooney, Jane Fonda, and Joan and Melissa Rivers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLegendary musicians Johnny Cash, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Janet Jackson, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, Elton John, Kenny Rogers, Harry Belafonte, ZZ Top's Dusty Hill, Richie Sambora, Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie, Don Mclean, Mountain's Leslie West, and Hank Williams, Jr.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSports great and soccer legend Pelé, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, Yankee Hall of Fame great Lefty Gomez, World Cup winning captain and soccer defensive legend Daniel Passarella, and Green Bay Packer Mike Bucchianeri along with the game ball, signed photo and watch from the college football \"all star\" Blue Gray Game in 1940.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFurther filling the current collection are watches or clocks from King Edward VIII and the Duchess of Windsor, beloved Hollywood host Ed Sullivan, renowned illusionists Siegfried \u0026amp; Roy, Academy award-winning actresses Loretta Young and Doris Day, Whoopie Goldberg, Emmy award-winning actress Valerie Harper, Golden Globe winning actor Richard Chamberlain, Emmy award-winning journalist Larry King, Emmy award-winning actor and producer Jerry Weintraub, Comedian Louie Anderson, Phyllis McGuire of the chart-topping McGuire sisters, Ian McDonald multi-instrumentalist English rocker for King Crimson and Foreigner, Elvira Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson), fashion designer to the stars Nolan Miller, the watch worn by Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise then owned by Beatle George Harrison, and a watch worn by multiple characters in the television series \"For All Mankind.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt also includes rare watches given by heads of state: A prototype 18K gold Buren Microrotor gifted by His Royal Majesty Ibn Saud, former King of Saudi Arabia; a Felsa given by former Libyan Colonel and Head of State Muammar Al Qathafi; a Longines given by Highness Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa former Prime Minister of the State of Bahrain; a Baume \u0026amp; Mercier gifted by the King of Jordan. All three watches are new-old-stock in presentation shadow box frames with photos.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecently sold was a watch given a handful of years after the Civil War concluded by the Vice President Elect to honor an Army commander who went on to receive the Medal of Honor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a significant, exciting, and constantly changing new collection you won't want to miss! Stay tuned over the coming weeks for photos of other special pieces from the collection!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo view the first few already up for sale follow this link: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.connoisseuroftime.com\/collections\/our-celebrity-owned-historical-event-watches?page=1\u0026amp;amp;sort_by=created-descending\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ehttps:\/\/shop.connoisseuroftime.com\/collections\/our-celebrity-owned-historical-event-watches?page=1\u0026amp;sort_by=created-descending\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCountry of origin:\u003c\/b\u003e Switzerland\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaker:\u003c\/b\u003e Old England\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eYear built:\u003c\/b\u003e c. early 1970's \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDesigned for:\u003c\/b\u003e Men\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFunctions:\u003c\/b\u003e Hours, Minutes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCase material:\u003c\/b\u003e Translucent composite outer carrier, inner metal case\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCase condition:\u003c\/b\u003e Well-preserved with expected light surface wear and minor toning to translucent material consistent with period production\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e 46mm diameter (without the crown) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDial:\u003c\/b\u003e Original caricature dial, multi-color printed artwork, very good condition with strong color retention original, mint condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMovement type:\u003c\/b\u003e Swiss manual wind mechanical\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBand:\u003c\/b\u003e Translucent molded bracelet with integrated case carrier, fixed construction, openwork geometric design, secured on the wrist by a band holder maintaining friction\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCrystal:\u003c\/b\u003e Flat acrylic \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeviced:\u003c\/b\u003e Our Master Watchmaking team have tested and timed the watch and performed any needed servicing making it ready for immediate enjoyment. We have not done anything to the outside of it - we left it just as we aquired it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWarranty:\u003c\/b\u003e 1-year international C.O.T. warranty. Please email concierge@cotwatches.com for details. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBox\/Papers:\u003c\/b\u003e BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; Certificate of Authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReturns:\u003c\/b\u003e 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Old England","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43361613021273,"sku":"10483","price":4795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1219\/5194\/files\/IMG001_bdde7cd9-2fcf-4939-8604-04715c70749b.jpg?v=1780071251","url":"https:\/\/shop.connoisseuroftime.com\/products\/elton-john-owned-gifted-wristwatch-1970s-private-issue-swiss-watch","provider":"Connoisseur of Time","version":"1.0","type":"link"}