Jackie Kennedy wearing her Cartier Tank Watch on the slopes of Sun Valley with her daughter Caroline in 1966 Photo Getty and Christie's Images
Jewelry History
At Auction: Jackie Kennedy’s Cartier Tank
The historic watch was sold at Christie’s in New York
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wearing her Cartier Tank watch as she walks in front of her Fifth Avenue apartment building in New York City in the early 1970s Photo Getty
Despite the fact that Jackie Kennedy had hundreds of jewels and several watches in her massive collection, her classic gold Cartier Tank watch is among her most signature accessories. It was almost as ubiquitous as her big sunglasses during the late 60s and early 70s. It has become much more well-known than the Schlumberger bracelets the press dubbed ‘Jackie Bangles’ because she wore them so frequently during the same period.
When the former First Lady’s estate was sold at Sotheby’s in 1996, none of the truly signature accessories were included. There were no sunglasses, no Schlumberger and no important diamond jewelry from the White House period. Needless to say, the Cartier Tank watch was not in the sale. All of these deeply personal items were divided among the Kennedy family and friends.
The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier Tank went on the auction block at Christie’s on June 21, 2017 in The Rare Watches and American Icons New York sale. The watch and a painting, that ties into the engraving on the timepiece and finally reveals who gave it to Jackie, sold together for $379,500. There were a dozen individual bidders in the room and on the phone driving up the price for three intense minutes. Kim Kardashian ultimately was the high bidder on the timepiece.
Jackie Kennedy wearing her Cartier Tank watch (from left to right) in December 1969 and in two images taken on the streets of New York in the early 1970s. The one on the far right is from the famous series by Ron Galella. It appears to suggest the famous paparazzo removed the watch in the dark room from the image he calls his “Mona Lisa.” Photo Getty
The history behind the watch includes an urban watch myth that has been circulating for years. The story was President Kennedy gave Jackie the Tank months before his death in 1963 and had it inscribed, “To Jackie, Love Jack.” Honestly, the alleged inscription always struck me as off by its excessive simplicity—no date, no message. Well, now we know the timepiece has far more of a complicated and touching story behind it.
The front and back of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier gold Tank watch. The timepiece is engraved “Stas to Jackie – 23 Feb. 63 – 2:05 am to 9:35 pm.”
Painting by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis of Stas Radziwill and Chuck Spalding on the 50-mile hike in Palm Beach.
Jackie’s brother-in-law Prince Stanislaw “Stas” Radizwell gave her the watch in 1963. It is engraved on the back “Stas to Jackie – 23 Feb. 63 – 2:05 am to 9:35 pm.”
The times refer to the start and stop times of an infamous 50-Mile Hike in Palm Beach in 1963. The event grew out of President Kennedy’s visionary New Frontier policy that included improving the health and fitness of the country. He suggested the march to his Marine commandant after coming across an executive order from Teddy Roosevelt with a mandate for a 50-mile march to be done in 20-hours for the Marines. He also put his White House staff to the task of the hike in Palm Beach, Florida.
According to The Daily JFK: “Famously dough-bodied Pierre Salinger declined but brother Robert Kennedy completed the test in 17 hours.
Kennedy brother-in-law Stas Radziwill and Kennedy friend Chuck Spalding started the 50 mile hike on the just completed Sunshine highway running from Miami to Fort Pierce.
They were accompanied by Secret Service agent Clint Hill, who was along because ‘the president wants to make sure that nothing happens to them.’ Also along was Dr. Max Jacobson, photographer Mark Shaw, and a Navy corpsman.
In the morning, the trekkers were visited by JFK and Jackie as they rested by the side of the road. The First Couple returned at about mile 45.”
Jackie celebrated Radziwill’s long march by painting a picture of him walking with Chuck Spalding. A dedication similar to the engraving on the timepiece is on the bottom of the painting. It says “February 23, 1963 2:05 am to 9:35 pm / Jackie to Stas with love and admiration.”
“The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier Tank is a watch full of emotion, love and history,” says John Reardon, International Head of Christie’s Watches. “Together with Jackie’s painting, these two objects capture the spirit of another era, a time where friendship and the ‘can-do’ optimism of the generation seemed to make anything possible. In this spirit, the consignor has offered to donate a portion of the proceeds to the National Endowment for the Arts.”
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