A golden pocket watch of immense historical value, once owned by a French hero of the American Revolutionary War, has surprisingly sold for less than the price of a standard Rolex at an auction in Philadelphia.
The 18-karat tricolored gold pocket watch, which belonged to Marquis de Lafayette—an esteemed figure akin to America’s Founding Fathers—was auctioned for just $44,800. This price is modest compared to some Rolex watches, known to start around $5,500 and often reaching into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
For comparison, the Rolex Submariner Date Oyster in 18kt yellow gold is currently priced at nearly the same amount, $44,600, before taxes.
Marquis de Lafayette served as a major general in George Washington’s Continental Army. His crucial contributions to the colonial cause against the British cemented his place in American history.
Despite not being officially recognized among the nation’s eight Founding Fathers, Lafayette shared a special bond with Washington and is often regarded with the same reverence as figures like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay.
Lafayette first encountered Washington at the age of 19 after arriving in the US, having left behind one of France’s wealthiest family legacies. Their relationship blossomed into a deep, father-son-like connection.
He headed for America, setting sail in 1777, after a dinner with the British Duke of Gloucester, who complained about the colonists’ revolutionary ideas.
After fighting in the war, he would go on to help his own people win the French Revolution. For his efforts, he was gifted the golden timepiece by the people of France.
Marquis de Lafayette’s 18-karat tricolored gold pocket watch sold for a measly $44,800, which is cheaper than some Rolex watches
The watch was a gift from the people of France after the French Revolution. The Rolex Submariner Date Oyster, in 18kt yellow gold, currently sells for a near-identical sticker price of $44,600, not including tax
Lafayette served as a major general in George Washington’s Continental Army, playing a vital role in the colonial victory during the Revolutionary War and earning him the honorific title of a ‘founding father’
The golden front is embossed with Greek mythical figures Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as liberty bells, a ship, and more.
The inside of the pocket watch also had an engraving of Lafayette himself. Engraved on the front is the soldier’s name.
The watch also featured a yellow gold watch winding key in the figure of General Lafayette, Freeman’s, the auction house, said.
One of the unique features of the watch is 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,’ Reginald Brack, Freeman’s Head of Watches, told The Philadelphia Inquirer ahead of the auction.
Lafayette College researchers also believe the item was important to the Frenchmen and that it was kept amongst his personal items.
It is unknown who purchased the item for nearly $45,000, which is a far cry from what luxury watch makers like Rolex can fetch for their top models, like the $131,000 Cosmograph Daytona.
Freeman’s acquired the priceless piece from a private college based in Chicago. It had previously been displayed at Lafayette College in 2007 to celebrate what would have been his 250th birthday.
The golden front is embossed with Greek mythical figures Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as liberty bells, a ship, and more
The inside of the pocket watch also had an engraving of Lafayette himself
Although he would never be named a true founding father, he did hold a special relationship with Washington (seen together), who was one
The piece had been estimated to be worth between $25,000 and $50,000, according to Freeman’s website.
The piece had been expected to be the star of Wednesday’s auction and it was believed the watch would go for more than the estimated $50,000, Brack said.
‘This really transcends watch-collecting,’ he said. ‘We feel like this could be a once-in-a-lifetime event.’
Freeman’s Andrew Taggart told the Daily Mail: ‘We are thrilled with the result – it realized a price toward the upper end of its pre-sale estimate.
‘The watch, believed to have been given to Marquis de Lafayette upon his return to France toward the end of the American Revolution, is a reminder of the nation’s early triumphs during its founding.’
