The Swiss Federal Court issued the above ruling on November 14, paving the way for the return of John Lennon's watch to Yoko Ono.
Yoko Ono lived with John Lennon until he was assassinated on December 8, 1980.
The Patek Philippe watch, estimated to be worth around $4.51 million (VND112 billion), was a 40th birthday gift to the former Beatles member from Japanese artist Yoko Ono in 1980, just two months before he was assassinated in New York.
The 18-carat gold watch has the words "(Just Like) Starting Over Love Yoko 10·9·1980 NYC" engraved on the back, a line from a song they wrote together, according to the court statement.
The appeal ruling, announced to reporters by the Swiss Federal Court on November 14, confirmed two previous rulings by the Geneva Court in 2022 and 2023. The ruling brings to an end a years-long legal battle between Yoko Ono and an Italian man living in China who claimed ownership of the watch and filed an appeal in the case.
Like all the names of the parties involved, his name is listed in code in Swiss legal documents, with only a few identities being able to be identified.
The Patek Philippe watch is estimated to be worth around $4.51 million (VND112 billion).
Reuters was unable to contact the man's lawyer because his identity was also censored.
Court records show the watch changed hands and countries several times after being taken by Yoko Ono's Turkish driver in 2006, who claimed he had Ono's consent to take the watch.
After arriving in Türkiye, the watch changed hands again in 2010 before being sold to a German auction house, who sold it to an Italian citizen living in China.
Yoko Ono, 91, only discovered the watch had been stolen in 2014 after a Geneva-based company, commissioned by the Italians to value the watch, notified her lawyer.
According to Swiss court documents, John Lennon's watch is being held by the appellant's lawyer in Geneva and it is not yet clear when or if it will be returned.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/toa-tuyen-yoko-ono-la-chu-so-huu-dong-ho-bi-danh-cap-cua-john-lennon-185241115104534056.htm
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