*** FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ***

[Houston]

An ultra thin Omega wristwatch in 18-carat gold was presented by one friend to another in 1960. On its’ back, bore the inscription

“President of the United States John F. Kennedy from his friend Grant”

However John F Kennedy would not be President until later in November of that year so the eloquent words of his friend Grant Stockdale may have been rather optimistic or indeed, prophetic.

Nevertheless it was probably the most famous watch given to anyone that year and will eventually reside in the home of its’ origins – the Omega Museum in Bienne, Switzerland since Omega successfully bid for it at an auction of The Robert White Collection of JFK memorabilia in December 2005. It fetched $350,000, perhaps less than it had been expected to go for.

Known as The Stockdale Watch and much treasured by John F Kennedy who wore it at his Inauguration Ceremony as seen in this photography published by Life Magazine

and whenever he was in the company of his friend who had campaigned for him after he had won his party’s nomination. Again later in 1960, Jacqueline Kennedy wrote to Grant Stockdale who eventually became ambassador to Ireland, expressing her deepest thanks for this ‘thinnest most elegant wristwatch’ adding that JFK was thrilled about it and how indeed ‘promptly he took off the chunky little one’ she had once given him.

After Kennedy's assassination the Stockdale Watch became part of the famous Robert White Collection of JFK memorabilia. This historic wristwatch is expected to be exhibited in Omega Flagship Boutiques around the world, before taking pride of place in the Omega Museum in Switzerland, where it will be displayed alongside the company’s exhibition of the achievements of the Speedmaster in relation to the conquest of space, something about which John F Kennedy was passionate as it was he, who during his term as the 35th President of the United States and indeed, one the nation's best loved, set America on the path to landing the first man on the moon.

ZIN

Sources - Omega, horology-stuff, Wikipedia