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JIMMY & ROSALYN CARTER OWNED WATCH with Family Engraving - Presidential Provenance
Certificate of Authenticity - Full Provenance with 2 COAs - 1 Year Warranty
Few objects carry the quiet weight of a life lived in public service quite like something personal from the home of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. This watch is one of those objects, and we are proud to offer it here. Sourced from their estate, it offers not simply a connection to history, but a glimpse into the private, human side of one of America’s beloved presidential families.
At first glance, it is a beautifully executed vintage gold filled ladies’ watch adorned with finely engraved decorative casework that reflects the craftsmanship of its era. But what elevates it far beyond its workmanship is the story it carries. Inside the back lid, a small applied heart and the engraved names “Amy” and “Daryl” suggest a deeply personal narrative.
Amy, of course, is the Carters’ daughter, who grew up in the White House and became a symbol of youthful authenticity during her father’s presidency. The addition of “Daryl” invites curiosity - perhaps a family connection, a meaningful relationship, or a moment in time preserved in gold. It is not a formal presentation piece; it is something more intimate, more human.
There is also a quiet historical dimension within the movement itself. Signed “W&Co. Excelsior,” it traces back to the New York Standard Watch Company of Jersey City, New Jersey. Production records indicate this specific movement, serial number 61007, grade Excelsior, model AJ, was manufactured in 1916, placing it squarely in the formative years of the wristwatch era, when movements originally conceived for small pocket watches were being adapted into elegant wrist-worn designs.
We feel that layered history complements the watch’s provenance beautifully. This is not an object created for ceremony or publicity, it is something that lived alongside the rhythms of family life. It reflects the Carters not as public figures, but as parents, as people, as a family whose legacy extends beyond politics into humanitarian work, humility, and enduring cultural respect.
The watch has a softly rounded gold filled case with hand-engraved motifs while the enamel dial, with classic Arabic numerals, red 12, and blued steel hands. It offers a timeless, restrained elegance.
Given the watch’s 1916 production date, intimate engraving, and modest yet elegant gold filled construction, it is also very possible that this was not simply an antique later acquired by the Carters, but rather a cherished family heirloom passed down from the previous generation. By the time Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter came of age, the watch would already have carried decades of history, lending it the feeling of an object that remained quietly within the family for many years.
It remains in overall very good condition. We have not cleaned or polished the watch or done anything to the outside of it - we left it just as we acquired it which includes signs of use.
On the inside, one of our Master Watchmakers has disassembled the movement inside down to the last screw and fully serviced it and tightened the cannon pinion making it ready for immediate enjoyment and for use for many years to come ($795 value).
It is now running strong and true, keeping very accurate time nearly on par with a new watch.
Our's Renowned Celebrity Collection:
This watch is part of our Celebrity Collection of watches that has been featured in GQ, Revolution Watch, Europa Star, JCK, Hampton's Magazine, Gotham Magazine, Vegas Magazine, Silicon Valley magazine and many others. eBay recently partnered with us for an exclusive, special sale for seven of the watches.
The collection has been composed of 135 watches and clocks owned or worn by 67 iconic celebrities and public figures. It may be the largest current collection of celebrity-owned watches in the world. It is constantly changing and is currently headlined by timepieces owned by some of the most legendary Hollywood actors and actresses, musicians, comedians, and entertainers:
The King, Elvis Presley. (Just sold)
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson. (Just sold)
The King of Comedy, Jerry Lewis.
The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. (Just sold)
President Jimmy Carter.
Hollywood icons Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Steve Martin, Red Skelton, Steve McQueen, Martin Sheen, Cicely Tyson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Burt Reynolds, Laurence Olivier, James Arness, Betty White, Olivia Newton-John, Bob Hope, Greta Garbo, Raquel Welch, Mickey Rooney, Jane Fonda, and Joan and Melissa Rivers.
Legendary musicians Johnny Cash, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Janet Jackson, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, Elton John, Kenny Rogers, Harry Belafonte, ZZ Top's Dusty Hill, Richie Sambora, Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie, Don Mclean, Mountain's Leslie West, and Hank Williams, Jr.
Sports great and soccer legend Pelé, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, Yankee Hall of Fame great Lefty Gomez, World Cup winning captain and soccer defensive legend Daniel Passarella, and Green Bay Packer Mike Bucchianeri along with the game ball, signed photo and watch from the college football "all star" Blue Gray Game in 1940.
Further filling the current collection are watches or clocks from King Edward VIII and the Duchess of Windsor, beloved Hollywood host Ed Sullivan, renowned illusionists Siegfried & Roy, Academy award-winning actresses Loretta Young and Doris Day, Whoopie Goldberg, Emmy award-winning actress Valerie Harper, Golden Globe winning actor Richard Chamberlain, Emmy award-winning journalist Larry King, Emmy award-winning actor and producer Jerry Weintraub, Comedian Louie Anderson, Phyllis McGuire of the chart-topping McGuire sisters, Ian McDonald multi-instrumentalist English rocker for King Crimson and Foreigner, Elvira Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson), fashion designer to the stars Nolan Miller, the watch worn by Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise then owned by Beatle George Harrison, and a watch worn by multiple characters in the television series "For All Mankind."
It also includes rare watches given by heads of state: A prototype 18K gold Buren Microrotor gifted by His Royal Majesty Ibn Saud, former King of Saudi Arabia; a Felsa given by former Libyan Colonel and Head of State Muammar Al Qathafi; a Longines given by Highness Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa former Prime Minister of the State of Bahrain; a Baume & Mercier gifted by the King of Jordan. All three watches are new-old-stock in presentation shadow box frames with photos.
Recently sold was a watch given a handful of years after the Civil War concluded by the Vice President Elect to honor an Army commander who went on to receive the Medal of Honor.
This is a significant, exciting, and constantly changing new collection you won't want to miss! Stay tuned over the coming weeks for photos of other special pieces from the collection!
Detailed Appraisal:
Manufacturer: New York Standard Watch Company (W&Co. Excelsior brand)
Country of Origin: United States (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Year Built: 1916
Serial no.: 61007
Model: Excelsior, Model AJ
Designed for: Ladies
Functions: Hours, Minutes
Case material: Gold-filled
Case Markings (inside): Engraved “AMY” and “DARYL” inside lid with Cartier family applied handcrafted heart
Case condition: Very good vintage condition with light surface wear consistent with age and indentions in the case back (partly because of the hand applied Carter family heart on the inside); engraving remains well-defined; hinge and closure functioning properly
Dimensions: 32.5mm diameter (without the crown)
Dial: White enamel dial with black Arabic numerals, red 12, outer minute track, blued steel hands, unsigned, period correct configuration original
Movement type: W&Co. Excelsior (New York Standard Watch Co.) manual wind movement, nickel damaskeened plates, model AJ, 0-size configuration, expansion balance, signed
Band: Gold-tone articulated expansion bracelet, flexible construction, sized to fit approximately a 6-inch wrist at its smallest before expanding, expands to approx. 7 inches at max, can be opened and closed
Crystal: Mineral glass
Serviced: Our Master Watchmaking team have tested and timed the watch and performed any needed servicing making it ready for immediate enjoyment. We have not done anything to the outside of it - we left it just as we acquired it.
Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is now running strong and true, keeping very accurate time nearly on par with a new watch.
Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please message us for details.
Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
Box/Papers: BOX - Watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
SKU 10493
