Elvis Presley, the one-time King of rock n’ roll, was famously generous when it came to gifts. One notorious purchase was the USS Potomac, the former yacht of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which he later gave to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis to sell as a fundraiser. He lavished his friends and family – and sometimes, even total strangers – with new cars, cheques and even covered medical expenses for those in need.
Now, customised watch gifted to one of Presley’s circle has come up for auction at Bonhams as part of its ‘New York Fine Watches: Icons and Masterpieces’ sale on 1st December.
Crafted from gold-plated stainless-steel, the Mathey-Tissot Automatic Calendar wristwatch dates from around 1970, and was presented by Elvis to his periodontist, Dr. Max Shapiro, and dental hygienist, Ms. Jewell Shapiro, and is being offered for sale by their family. Between 1969 and 1971, Elvis commissioned his personal jeweller in Memphis, Harry Levitch, to create a series of personalised Mathey-Tissot wristwatches for his friends and members of his inner circle.
This model features the words ‘Elvis Presley’ in raise lettering around the bezel, embellished with four stars along its bottom edge – a signature feature of these specially-ordered timepieces. It is being offered with an estimate of US $4,000 – $6,000 (£3,028 – £4,543).
The relationship between Elvis and his jeweller was an infamously warm and longstanding one. When Elvis was still a child, a friend of his once came to school without shoes on, and had been provided with a pair by a benevolent fund set up by Levitch to help underprivileged children. Later, a teenaged Elvis visited Levitch’s jewellery store to thank him for his generosity. “Some day I’m going to be famous and you’ll become my jeweller,” Elvis is reported to have said.
After his career skyrocketed, Elvis went on to commission countless pieces of jewellery from Levitch, including tie pins, watches, bracelets and, famously, the 3.5-carat diamond engagement ring for his beloved, Priscilla Presley. Elvis also commissioned matching diamond horseshoe wedding bands for himself and his bride from the jeweller.
In a letter to the rock star dated April 15, 1960 (itself auctioned in 2016), Levitch wrote: “Just a brief note to thank you for your most valued patronage, and for the personal kindness that was shown me while at your home. It is a distinct privilege and pleasure to do business with such magnificently warm and honest people as are you and Mr. Presley [Elvis’ father]….thanks a million for your kindness in remembering us as your friends. We wish you every success and happiness in Hollywood and sincerely mean it when we say, ‘It just couldn’t happen to a finer young man’.”
Other highlights in the watch-only sale include a prestigious Patek Philippe World Time watch in rose gold (yours for an estimated $80,000 – 100,000, or £60,572 – £75,715) and a collection of over 30 Omega timepieces amassed by a single owner over the past 40 years, including iconic and rare Speedmasters.
Like this? Read about Lady Astor’s rare Cartier tiara that sold for three times its estimate at Bonhams.
