Timepieces APRIL 2018 : ISSUE 83
Fit For a King A commemorative Omega once belonging to Elvis Presley is up for auction – and the diamond timepiece looks set to leave bidders all shook up
AIR
WORDS : CHRIS UJMA
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uccess attracts attention. Phillips auctioneers hit the headlines late last year with the sale of an inscribed Rolex Daytona once owned by Paul Newman – which went under the hammer for a record USD17.8million. The historic result may, perhaps, be echoed with Phillips’ next seismic lot – a watch belonging to Elvis Presley, who accomplished a fair few records of his own. The Omega, once presented to The King himself, is up at auction in Geneva next month. There are 44 round brilliant diamonds set upon the bezel of the 33mm, Swiss-made timepiece. It contains the manual-wound Omega Calibre 510, and is stamped with OXG (which represents 30
the import code for the United States). Its dial features a seconds indicator with a sub-dial at six o’clock. Paul Boutros, Phillips Strategic Advisor and Head of Americas, explains the significance of the timepiece. “This watch, purchased by RCA Records from Tiffany & Co. and presented to the singer in 1961, celebrates a significant milestone not only in Elvis’ career but in the history of music. According to our research, Elvis was the first artist in history to sell 75 million records, and this wristwatch has a remarkable caseback engraving to honour the milestone: ‘To Elvis 75 Million Records RCA Victor 12-25-60’.” With celebrity-associated sales, provenance is of paramount concern – proving a celebrity wore the associated
It has one of the most fascinating provenances to ever appear on the market auction piece is often a challenge. In this instance, there’s crystal clear proof. Isabella Proia of Phillips Watches delved into the history of the Omega, writing, “RCA arranged a laudatory charity luncheon and concert not only to award Elvis for such a significant achievement, but also to re-establish him as a performer. The incredible provenance of this historic timepiece is furthermore confirmed by photos of Presley
