The Story Behind Jackie Kennedy's Cartier Watch: A Royal Gift With ‘Traces and Clues of Her Life' Revealed
The V&A's latest fashion exhibit showcases the iconic, world-renowned jewelry brand Cartier, and among its dazzling display of diamonds is a timepiece steeped in history: the Cartier watch once owned by Jackie Kennedy.
According to Sunita Kumar Nair, author of 'CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion,' this display is particularly meaningful: 'This is an incredible moment, for the general public to see a historical timepiece from the Kennedy legacy, particularly Jackie's,' Kumar Nair said. 'It wasn't included for public eyes until now, which is an excellent example of how she still remains an important part of our cultural legacy and how there are still parts of her life yet to be unravelled.'
More from WWD
Sarah Jessica Parker Embraces Dark Glamour in Custom Jenny Packham for 'And Just Like That' Season Three Paris Photo Call
EXCLUSIVE: Birkenstock Reimagines Self Care 'From the Feet Up' With Pop-up Spa Experience in Los Angeles at The Grove
Sarah Jessica Parker Goes Boho Chic in Paris, Kristin Davis Favors Florals in Rixo Dress and More Looks at the 'And Just Like That...' Season Three Premiere
This storied accessory has journeyed through the ages. Its significance dates back to 1963, when President John F. Kennedy launched a fitness initiative, challenging the population to walk 50 miles, hoping to inspire Americans to become more active.
Jackie's brother-in-law, Prince Stanislaw 'Stas' Radziwill, who was married to her sister, took part in the trek. Jackie intermittently joined the walk, offering support and encouragement along the way. In commemoration of the experience, Stas gave her the Cartier watch.
The memory of that day was preserved with a heartfelt inscription engraved on the back: 'Stas to Jackie / 23 Feb. 63 / 2:05 AM to 9:35 PM,' in script.
In a tragic turn of events, six months after this, President Kennedy was assassinated, leaving Jackie a widow.
As reported by Nair, the next time the widow was seen in public, she was with her daughter Caroline skiing in Sun Valley, a glimpse of the watch face captured.
'She served the American people as first lady, and she respected the boundaries and messages that certain pieces of fashion and jewelry meant to the general public and her husband's presidency,' Kumar Nair explained, 'it felt like the watch was a signifier of her new life, a private citizen free to wear what she wanted, and a flag of her social status and life as a widow.'
After that, the ex-first lady was rarely seen without it and it became a staple for her, making it a well-loved accessory.
After her death in 1994, Sotheby's held a sale of her belongings, which did not include her watch. It wasn't until 2017 that Christie's announced a sale of the watch. An unidentified bidder won the accessory for $379,500, which was later revealed to be Kim Kardashian.
The story now continues as the watch takes its new home at the V&A.
'Jackie was so private, and we are still left with traces and clues of her life. There is something to be said about keeping parts of your life private, particularly when you are serving a public life,' Kumar Nair noted.
View Gallery
Launch Gallery: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 1960s Style File From the Archives [PHOTOS]
Best of WWD
Model and Hip Hop Fashion Pioneer Kimora Lee Simmons' Runway Career Through the Years [PHOTOS]
Salma Hayek's Fashion Evolution Through the Years: A Red Carpet Journey [PHOTOS]
How Christian Dior Revolutionized Fashion With His New Look: A History and Timeline
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
34 minutes ago
- Fox News
Woman declared dead by coroner, moved to coffin, turns out to be alive
A woman declared dead by the coroner after her husband found her unresponsive in bed was being placed in a coffin when morticians made a startling discovery — she was very much alive. The horrifying tale from the Czech Republic unfolded when an 88-year-old woman, who was thought to be dead, showed signs of life in her coffin. According to the husband of the woman thought to be deceased called the Pilsen emergency services to potentially help his wife. The husband told the emergency dispatch that "she didn't move, she didn't breathe," according to the report. When paramedics arrived, they confirmed the woman's death and the coroners were dispatched to the apartment. The coroner also confirmed the woman's death and undertakers were called to move the body into the coffin. The husband also told Blesk that "the workers transferred her to the coffin, and when they were right here in the apartment in the hallway by the door, they found out she was alive." An ambulance arrived shortly after, and the woman was transported to the hospital. While this may seem like something out of a horror story, this rare medical occurrence has happened before. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it's known as the Lazarus Effect. Named after the biblical story of Jesus raising Lazarus back from the dead, this usually occurs after CPR ends. Typically, this happens after a cardiac arrest occurs and CPR is administered to the patient. This medical phenomenon occurs after the patient is clinically pronounced dead. Some time later, the patient will begin to show signs of life and must continue to show these signs for more than a few seconds. According to the National Institutes of Health, there have been 74 confirmed cases in the U.S. from 1982-2022. It is still unknown how or why the Lazarus Effect happens.
Gizmodo
an hour ago
- Gizmodo
Cillian Murphy's Role in the '28 Years Later' Trilogy Is Coming Later Than We Hoped
Director and writer Danny Boyle teased the Oscar winner will appear to set up a third movie, if the first two do well. Cillian Murphy is set to make his eventual return to the world of 28 Days Later within the upcoming trilogy that 28 Years Later will kick off this summer, but there are a few catches. Director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) revealed vague details about the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer actor's involvement to IGN. The upcoming trilogy expands on the world Boyle and Alex Garland (Civil War) started with 28 Days Later and its star Cillian Murphy, with a new set of interconnected stories. However, Murphy will not appear in the first film as it introduces a new central character: Spike, a 12-year-old boy portrayed by Alfie Williams whose family (led by Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson) finds itself in the thick of the post-apocalyptic zombie outbreak. 'Although each story completes itself, there's a handover section to the next film as well. So it's very ambitious. We haven't got the money for the third one yet. It will depend how the first one does, I guess,' Boyle shared and explained that Murphy's return is contingent on how the first two movies do. 'But hopefully if we do ok, they'll give us the go-ahead for the money and for the third one. Everybody's standing by for that, really. Including Cillian,' the director confirmed regarding Murphy's participation. Currently it's planned that he will make an appearance at the end of the Nia DaCosta (Candyman)-directed follow-up 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which picks up on the immediate continuation of events from Boyle's upcoming reboot sequel and is slated to open in theaters next January. 'He is in the second one,' Boyle revealed, 'I shouldn't give away too much. I'll get killed.' But we can guess that his appearance will only tease the potential of the third film, which Sony has yet to confirm. Boyle continued, 'You know that thing about sequels, you want to push it on and take huge risks.' 'I have to say fair play to [studio Sony Pictures]. They did allow us to take great liberties with [28 Years Later]. They could have said, 'Oh no, it needs to be more sequel-y. You need to rely on some of the ideas that are in the original. And what do you mean Cillian's not going to appear in the first one? I thought you said Cillian was going to be in it.' We said, 'Yeah, Cillian is going to be in it, but not quite the first one.' So fair play to them. They've put up with a lot.' 28 Years Later opens June 20.
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
UK Could Miss 2030 Clean Power Goal, Parliament Committee Warns
The UK's goal of a clean power grid by 2030 is in danger of slipping out of reach as planning delays and infrastructure bottlenecks challenge the government. The ambition requires 'building more energy generation and network infrastructure at a faster pace than Great Britain has managed in recent years,' according to a report from the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee published on Wednesday.
