Buddy Holly’s Omega Watch
Buddy Holly’s Omega Wristwatch was estimated at $60,000-$70,000. It’s a diamond wristwatch that was worn by the late and great Buddy Holly. The watch was offered at auction by his widow with other personal items of Buddy Holly.
Buddy Holly was wearing the Omega wristwatch the day of the plane crash in Iowa that killed him, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper: Richardson. On the back of the watch, his wife had it inscribed and it says: “Buddy Holly, 12-1-58,” which was the date that his wife gave him an early Christmas present. His father wore the watch for years after the death of his son.
Despite Buddy Holly’s short lived career, he wrote several famous songs such as Peggy Sue, That’ll Be the Day, and Maybe Baby. Buddy Holly influenced rock n roll in a big way. Future generations that was influenced by his music was The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Buddy Holly’s widow Maria Elena Holly married the singer in 1958, just months before the death of Buddy. Their first date, Buddy proposed to her.
The watch was first put up for auction in 2000 and unfortunately did not sell. In 2006, Maria Elena Holly put it up for auction for a second time and sold the watch for $155,350 to an anonymous woman who lives near San Francisco. The buyer said that she didn’t buy the watch as an investment; she bought it just because she’s a big fan of Buddy Holly.
The watch has been described as a 14 karat white gold Omega Gentleman’s wristwatch with forty five single cut diamonds that was set around the bezel. According to Buddy Holly’s wife, she kept items that were Buddy’s all these years, and now she feels that it’s time to let go and to share them with the fans.
Some of the other things that she auctioned off beside his watch was also some early demo tracks of That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, and Maybe Baby, plus other songs that are unreleased to the public. Also his 1958 passport was sold for $26,290 and a U.K. work permit to allow him to perform his historic show in England. His style and performance is what laid the foundation of music to begin the British Invasion.