Music History for Sale: Elvis's Watch Lead Record-Setting Auction
The world of music memorabilia continues to captivate collectors, with recent sales at Goldin's inaugural music auction demonstrating a robust market for artifacts from legendary artists. Among the most sought-after items were a timepiece once owned by Elvis Presley and a bespoke suit worn by John Lennon, both fetching impressive sums. This event highlights Goldin's expanding presence in the pop culture collectibles sphere, moving beyond its established reputation in sports memorabilia.
Elvis Presley’s Watch Sells for Over $100,000
An Omega wristwatch, notable for its provenance from Elvis Presley, achieved a significant sale price of $103,700. This particular watch was a gift to the King of Rock and Roll. The engraved timepiece was a highlight of Goldin's first dedicated music memorabilia auction, which concluded on Wednesday night, July 16, 2025. Other valuable pieces in the auction included a signed Led Zeppelin "Presence" album, which sold for $19,520, and George Harrison's sunglasses, which brought in $47,590. The auction house also established a new record for a Type 1 photograph of rapper Tupac Shakur, which realized $10,370. This photo, developed from the original negative within two years of its capture, underscores the growing interest in specific photographic formats of historical significance.
John Lennon’s Suit Fetches Big Bucks at Goldin Auction
A custom-made suit worn by John Lennon in 1963, created by D.A. Millings & Son, was another star of the Goldin auction, realizing $102,480. Many of the Beatles-related items featured in the sale came from the extensive collection of music promoter Chris Agajanian, who has amassed over 2,000 pieces of Beatles memorabilia over four decades. Agajanian provided authenticated letters of provenance for many of the items.
Dave Amerman, Goldin's head of revenue, noted the company's strategic shift towards pop culture, a move also reflected in their Netflix series, "King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch," which premiered in 2023 and has been renewed for a third season. Amerman explained that the increasing volume of music items prompted Goldin to establish a distinct event for them. The auction also showcased over 500 concert posters, graded by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), a leader in comic book grading, encompassing a wide array of artists from the Grateful Dead to Blink-182.
Goldin is no stranger to record-breaking sales. In 2020, the company sold a copy of Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Double Fantasy" album for $900,000—an album uniquely significant as it was signed by Lennon for his assassin, Mark David Chapman, just hours before Lennon's tragic death in 1980. The auction house also holds the world record for the most expensive toy ever sold: a 1979 prototype action figure of "Star Wars" bounty hunter Boba Fett, which crossed the $1 million mark in 2024. Currently, Goldin's Hollywood Props & Memorabilia auction, featuring items such as Harrison Ford's "Indiana Jones" whip, a "Star Wars" Stormtrooper prototype helmet, and George Reeves' "Superman" suit, is live and set to close on August 6, 2025.
