Stolen Yoko Ono Gift to John Lennon Set for Return After Court Ruling

A Swiss court has ruled that a stolen watch, gifted by Yoko Ono to John Lennon just months before his death, does not belong to an Italian buyer who purchased it years later through an auction. The decision clears the path for its return to Ono after years of legal wrangling.

The Patek Philippe watch, valued at approximately 4 million Swiss Francs ($4.51 million), was a significant gift marking Lennon's 40th birthday in 1980. Ono presented the luxury timepiece to the legendary musician two months before his tragic assassination in New York. On the back of the watch's 18-carat gold face, an inscription reads: “(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER LOVE YOKO 10·9·1980 N.Y.C,” referencing lyrics from a song the couple co-wrote.

The Federal Tribunal’s appeal decision, released on Thursday, supports earlier Geneva court judgments from 2022 and 2023. This ruling brings an end to the prolonged legal dispute between Ono and an Italian man residing in China, who argued he was the rightful owner of the watch. Due to confidentiality in Swiss legal documents, most parties involved are identified only through code names, leaving some identities unclear.

The watch’s complicated history includes being stolen by a chauffeur in 2006 and later traveling through multiple hands and countries. In 2010, the watch resurfaced in Turkey before being sold to a German auction house, which subsequently sold it to the Italian buyer. Ono became aware of the theft in 2014, after a Geneva-based appraisal company—hired by the Italian to determine the watch’s value—alerted her lawyer about its existence.

Currently, the watch is held in Geneva by the appellant's lawyer, according to court documents. However, it remains uncertain when or if it will be formally returned to Ono.