A historic 18-karat gold pocket watch that once belonged to the French hero of the American Revolutionary War, Marquis de Lafayette, has sold for a surprisingly modest sum at a Philadelphia auction.
The tricoloured gold timepiece, a gift from the people of France, fetched $44,800 – a price that falls short of the value commanded by some contemporary Rolex watches.
The Surprising Auction Result
Held by Freeman's auction house, the sale saw the priceless artefact achieve a final bid far lower than many luxury timepieces. For comparison, a new Rolex Submariner Date Oyster in 18kt yellow gold carries a near-identical retail price of $44,600, excluding tax.
This outcome is particularly striking given that certain premium Rolex models, like the Cosmograph Daytona, can sell for as much as $131,000. The watch had been estimated to sell for between $25,000 and $50,000, and auctioneers believed it would be the star lot, potentially exceeding its high estimate.
A Watch Steeped in History
The pocket watch is intrinsically linked to one of the most important figures in both American and French history. Marquis de Lafayette served as a major general in George Washington's Continental Army, playing a vital role in securing colonial victory against the British.
He forged a father-son-like bond with Washington and, though not officially a Founding Father, is often held in equal esteem to figures like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. After fighting in America's revolution, he returned to help his own people win the French Revolution, for which he was gifted this golden timepiece.
The watch itself is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Its golden front is embossed with intricate designs featuring Greek mythical figures Orpheus and Eurydice, along with liberty bells and a ship. The inside bears an engraving of Lafayette himself, and it even came with a yellow gold winding key shaped in the general's likeness.
One of its most remarkable features was its ability to chime every hour. "It was quite a flex in its time, to be able to tell the time by sound rather than having to look at one’s watch," noted Reginald Brack, Freeman's Head of Watches.
The Legacy of a Revolutionary Artefact
Researchers from Lafayette College confirm the watch was a significant personal item for the Marquis, kept among his most treasured possessions. It was previously displayed at the college in 2007 to mark what would have been his 250th birthday.
Freeman's acquired the piece from a private college in Chicago. Before the auction, Brack described the sale as a "once-in-a-lifetime event" that "transcends watch-collecting." The identity of the buyer who secured this piece of history for just under $45,000 remains unknown.
