Gentlewoman style: Jackie Kennedy’s Cartier watch

Cartier watch Jackie Kennedy

Cartier watches are everywhere at the moment. In this fab Sofia Coppola ad for the revived Cartier Panthere, in a new exhibition at The Design Museum (more info to come) and in a Christie’s sale happening in New York in a couple of weeks.

This gold Cartier Tank was a gift to Jackie Kennedy by her brother-in-law, Prince Stanislaw Radziwill in February 1963. The watch (part of Christie’s’ Rare Watches and American Icons sale) is utterly timeless with its 18k gold square-shaped case and black lizard strap. Seen in numerous famous photos, its inscription, ‘Stas to Jackie, 23 Feb. 1963. 2,05am to 9.35am’ is a reference to the 50 Mile Hike completed in Palm Beach in 1963 after a challenge set by JFK in Sports Illustrated. (Click this link to read a terrific account of the 50 Mile Hike by Clint Hill, Jackie Kennedy’s Secret Service Agent.)

Jackie Kennedy Cartier Tank

The estimate price is $60,000-$120,000* in case you fancy trying your luck. And it’s sold with an accompanying painting by Jackie Kennedy of the Prince and Chuck Spalding on the hike. The sale takes place on 21st June and if I had the money, I’d totally be there with paddle aloft …

*UPDATE: It went for $379,500, more than triple its high estimate of $120,000.
UPDATE 2: Ugh, the ‘anonymous’ buyer was none other than Kim Kardashian

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl/Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Christie’s
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