J.P. Morgan’s Pocket Watch

J.P. Morgan, the legendary financier, commissioned an extraordinary double-sided pocket watch that is still considered to be one of the most complex and sophisticated timepieces ever created.

This custom-made watch, crafted by J. Player & Sons, was far more than just a timekeeper - it was essentially a miniature astronomical device - and took four years to make.

This watch became a physical manifestation of J.P. Morgan’s fascination with Astronomy and Astrology, reflecting his deep appreciation for both science and mysticism.

It’s known to have passed through several hands before eventually vanishing in 1974, making its current whereabouts unknown eversince.

A 1909 article from Horological Journal detailed the complications of the double-faced watch, to include a grande and petite sonnerie, minute repeater, annual calendar, running equation of time, times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset, moon phase, tidal level, detailed star chart of the heavens with zodiac constellations, solar declination, and a one-minute tourbillon visible through an aperture on the reverse dial.

It’s one of the most advanced and elaborate watches ever made, embodying the grandeur and innovation of the Gilded Age, and successfully intertwines the complexity between science and the celestial.

After Morgan’s death, 250 of his watches - along with many other exotic collectibles - were donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or are currently displayed at The Morgan Library & Museum on 225 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016

However, I found this mystery to take a dark but poetic turn. I discovered that only a year after its completion, the firm that made the watch shut its doors for good in 1910.

Carl Player, the great-great grandson of J.W. Player, the son of the founder of J. Player & Son and the watchmaker who created the timepiece, stated how the family business, once thriving in their work for royal families and many elites in the Gilded Age society, was actually devastated by “the amount of resources they spent to create the special watch”. Thus, J. Player & Son was undone by their masterpiece.

I found this long but beautiful article about an LA Times writer who tried to hunt down the watch, only to finally find the broker who sold it to its current owner asked to remain unknown. However, he did provide a statement: “He fully understands what it is and considers himself very privileged to own it.”