Quincy Jones was an absolute king. He was a towering figure in the music industry, leaving an indelible stamp on popular culture through his producing, arranging, and film score work. From early collaborations with Count Basie, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra to producing one of the top-selling albums of all time (Thriller by Michael Jackson), not to mention We Are The World, he made the soundtrack for many of our lives. During a well-lived lifetime spanning 91 years, he was rewarded with accolades, including the entertainment industry grand slam ‘EGOT’ (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards).
There were also plenty of watches and jewelry gifted and collected during his epic life and career. Now some of Quincy Jones’ unique pieces are heading to auction at Christie’s in Geneva this month. We got a sneak preview of some of the catalog, including these three pieces, that the family has consigned. A couple of them were gifts from notable celebrities to Jones. They all give a sense of some of the objects worn and cherished by one of the most important figures in entertainment history.
Girard-Perregaux World Time Control Shadow ‘Quincy Jones’
Sized at 43mm in diameter with both a flyback chronograph and a worldtime complication, this Girard-Perregaux, dated from 2011, has a lot going on. The beefy case features a smooth black ceramic exterior, a titanium caseback, and an interior housing, in a size and style that’s very representative of the era for the Swiss brand. The watch’s well-documented provenance is what makes it so special.
Photo courtesy Getty Images.
The singer Andrea Bocelli gave it to Quincy Jones during the Andrea Bocelli Foundation’s opening ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in December 2011, according to news reports at the time. Girard-Perregaux collaborated with Bocelli to commemorate the foundation’s launch, and the watch was given to Jones when he received the inaugural foundation award in appreciation of his work and dedication to international charity.
Christie’s has given the watch a pre-sale estimate of $6,400 to $13,000.
Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3700/1JA ‘Quincy Jones’
Manufactured and purchased in 1981, this watch is believed to have been in Jones’ possession for some 43 years. It’s an original 3700 ‘Jumbo’ with the 41mm case, produced between 1976 and 1998. It doesn’t get much more ’80s than a bicolor steel-and-gold Nautilus, I’d say.
There’s no doubt the year 1981 was a seminal one in Jones’ career, and an extract from the archives confirms the watch was purchased on September 8 that year. He received a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year and won the award for Best Instrumental Arrangement. It was also in 1981 that he began overseeing the production of Michael Jackson’s album Thriller, which was released the following year.
Of course, 2026 marks Nautilus’s 50th anniversary, and Jones’ two-tone steel-and-gold is a prime example of the iconic model designed by Gérald Genta, which was with the legendary producer as he made music history over the decades.
Christie’s has given the watch a pre-sale estimate of $130,000 to $250,000.
22k Gold and Colored Diamond-Set Pendant With 18k Gold Chain Necklace Gifted to Quincy Jones by Bono
Finally, not a watch but a bold piece of solid gold jewelry with an amazing backstory. In 2013, Jones and the actor Sir Michael Caine celebrated their mutual 80th birthdays (both born on the same day, March 14, 1933) at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas at a star-studded event that also served as a charity fundraiser.
U2 singer Bono performed in a tribute to Jones with the Frank Sinatra numbers “I Got You Under My Skin” and “Fly Me to the Moon,” and presented to Jones this gold necklace with a 22-carat gold and colored diamond-set pendant. It is engraved ‘B4Q80’ on the back – standing for ‘Bono for Quincy, 80th birthday’.
Christie’s has given the necklace and pendant a pre-auction estimate of $13,000 to $19,000.
The Christie’s Rare Watches auction takes place May 11 Geneva. For more info click here.
