Featured image: Sandstein, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
John F. Kennedy’s best-documented watch is an 18k gold Omega Ultra Thin (reference OT3980) with a rectangular case and a black leather strap, given to him by his friend Grant Stockdale and engraved on the caseback. It is widely reported that he wore it at his 1961 inauguration, and it is now displayed in Omega’s museum in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.
Quick answerJFK’s signature watch was a gold Omega Ultra Thin ref. OT3980. He also received a gold Cartier Tank from Jackie in 1957, a gold Rolex Day-Date from Marilyn Monroe in 1962 and a gold “Nastrix” from diplomat David Bruce in 1963. The Omega is the one tied most closely to his presidency.
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Omega Ultra Thin OT3980
Vintage Cartier Tank
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The main watch: Omega Ultra Thin OT3980
Kennedy’s Omega is a slim, dressy 18k gold watch with a rectangular case. That shape surprises many people, since Omega is better known for round Speedmasters and Seamasters, and the watch is often mistaken for a Cartier Tank. The caseback is engraved with a dedication from Stockdale, a former Florida state senator and friend of the family, marking Kennedy’s election as president.
Crown & Caliber reports that Stockdale bought and personalized the watch the summer before the 1960 election. Wrist Enthusiast records the caseback as reading “President of the United States / John F. Kennedy / From His Friend Grant,” and says Kennedy wore it while sailing in 1961. Omega has said little about the specific caliber, so the table below sticks to what is broadly reported. Omega bought the watch at auction in December 2005 for $350,000, according to Crown & Caliber, and it is displayed at the Omega Museum in Biel/Bienne.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Watch | Omega Ultra Thin, ref. OT3980 |
| Case | Rectangular, 18k gold |
| Strap | Black leather |
| Movement | Manual-wind mechanical (exact caliber not widely confirmed) |
| Engraving | “President of the United States / John F. Kennedy / From His Friend Grant” |
| Where it is now | Omega Museum, Switzerland |
| Approximate price today | Not for sale; similar vintage gold Omega dress watches sell for roughly $1,500 to $5,000 |
Other watches linked to JFK
Cartier Tank from Jackie
Crown & Caliber reports that Jacqueline Bouvier gave Kennedy an 18k gold Louis Cartier Tank in 1957, four years after their wedding, engraved with his initials, family arms and wedding date. The same source says he wore it on the day he was assassinated in 1963, and that Jackie later gave it to his former secretary. No auction result is given.
Do not confuse it with the better-known Tank sold at auction: Wrist Enthusiast reports that a different gold Tank, given to Jackie by Prince Stanislaw Radziwill in 1963 to commemorate a 50-mile walk, sold in 2017 for $379,000, more than three times its $120,000 estimate. Earlier versions of this article, and several other sites, blur the two watches together.
Rolex Day-Date from Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe gave Kennedy a gold Rolex Day-Date for his 45th birthday on May 29, 1962, engraved “Jack / With Love as always / from MARILYN / May 29th 1962,” per Wrist Enthusiast. Both sources say he did not appear to wear it, and Crown & Caliber adds that he had an assistant dispose of it to avoid gossip. It reportedly sold at auction in 2005 for $120,000.
The Nastrix
The “Nastrix” is a gold watch given in 1963 by David and Evangeline Bruce to thank Kennedy for appointing David Bruce ambassador to Britain. His secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, said he wore it often, including on morning swims. It sold at auction in 2009 for $120,000 with a signed letter of authenticity, to an anonymous buyer.
Other Kennedy watches
- Bulova (1941): a gold rectangular-cased watch with a stretch bracelet, engraved with his initials and the year, according to Crown & Caliber.
- Hamilton 505 (1962): a custom watch from former Pennsylvania governor David Lawrence, with photo-engraved pictures of Kennedy’s children on the dial.
The Kennedy watches at a glance
| Watch | Year | From | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartier Tank | 1957 | Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy | Worn on the day of his death, per Crown & Caliber |
| Omega Ultra Thin OT3980 | 1960 | Grant Stockdale | Bought by Omega for $350,000 (2005) |
| Rolex Day-Date | 1962 | Marilyn Monroe | Reportedly sold for $120,000 (2005) |
| Hamilton 505 | 1962 | David Lawrence | No result reported |
| Nastrix | 1963 | David and Evangeline Bruce | Sold for $120,000 (2009) |
Why Kennedy’s watches matter to collectors
Kennedy’s watches matter less for what they are mechanically than for who they connect to. All of them are gold dress watches: thin, elegant and made to sit under a shirt cuff. That mid-century look is exactly what is popular again. Smaller gold-cased watches with leather straps have become a trend in vintage collecting, which is one reason Kennedy-era Omegas draw attention.
Get the look for less
A JFK-style watch is a slim, round or rectangular dress watch with a thin case, a simple dial and a dark leather strap. Good-value options include:
- Timex Marlin Hand-Wound: a 34mm vintage-style dress watch, around $200 to $250.
- Orient Bambino: an affordable automatic with a domed crystal, around $150 to $300.
- Seiko Presage or Cocktail Time: automatic dress watches with textured dials, around $300 to $500.
- Tissot Everytime or Tissot Gentleman: Swiss-made, simple and modest in price, around $300 to $700.
Our guide to the best dress watches under $500 covers more. If you like presidential watch history, read about what Ronald Reagan wore and what Donald Trump wears. For another icon from the same era, see what Elvis Presley wore.
Omega’s most famous moment came a few years later, when the Speedmaster went to the Moon: read what watch Neil Armstrong wore on Apollo 11.
FAQ
What watch did JFK wear at his inauguration?
Crown & Caliber says he wore the gold Omega Ultra Thin from Grant Stockdale at his 1961 Oath of Office.
Where is JFK’s Omega watch now?
Omega bought it at auction in December 2005 for $350,000 and it is displayed at the Omega Museum in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.
Did Marilyn Monroe give JFK a Rolex?
Yes, a gold Rolex Day-Date was her birthday gift to him in 1962, engraved with a personal message, although he apparently never wore it.
Did JFK wear a Cartier?
Yes. Crown & Caliber reports that Jackie gave him a gold Cartier Tank in 1957 and that he wore it the day he died. A separate Tank sold at auction in 2017 for $379,000 belonged to Jackie, not to him.