LOT #43093 |
Current Bid: $10,000
John F. Kennedy: His 1960 Campaign Wristwatch with Provenance....
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Description
The Gold Benrus Wristwatch Worn by JFK on the 1960 Campaign Trail.
John F. Kennedy: His 1960 Campaign Wristwatch with
Provenance. A personal and highly symbolic timepiece: a solid
gold Benrus wristwatch presented to John F. Kennedy shortly after
his nomination as the Democratic candidate in the summer of 1960,
gifted by members of the Democratic National Committee. The
caseback bears the meaningful inscription: "TO OUR NEXT PRESIDENT
J.F.K.". Kennedy wore it throughout the campaign, making it an
important personally-owned presidential relic from a pivotal moment
in American political history.Condition: Lightly worn but in excellent overall condition. The watch winds and runs, though timekeeping accuracy is not guaranteed. While other watches appeared on the market over the years with claims that they had belonged to Kennedy, this offering is a rare opportunity indeed for serious Kennedy collectors to purchase an impeccably documented watch worn by JFK.
Provenance & Authentication: Accompanied by a handwritten letter of authentication from Dave Powers, JFK's long-serving aide from his 1946 Congressional debut through the White House years and later the founding curator of the JFK Library. Powers was deeply woven into the Kennedy narrative, riding in the motorcade just behind the president on November 22, 1963, and later cataloging JFK's personal items to create the foundation of the JFK Library Collection. His authentication and custodial history provide an unmatched chain of provenance. Powers recounts that Kennedy found the watch "heavy" with a loose band-nearly losing it during motorcades and greeting crowds-so he ultimately gifted it to Powers himself.
Auction Info
2025 October 24 - 25 Americana & Political Signature® Auction #6324 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
October
24th
Friday
10:50 am CT
Auction Dates
October
24th-25th
Friday-Saturday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
16 Days
10h 35m 25s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: 39
Page Views: 366
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% of the successful bid (minimum $49) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 43001-43191) - 11:00 AM Central Time, Friday, October 24, 2025.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
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Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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