Ernest Hemingway's Pocket Watch
Ernest Hemingway's time in Paris could well be summed up by his time at the Ritz. Famously camped out at the hotel's bar with F. Scott Fitzgerald and other luminaries of the time, he even "liberated" the spot upon the Nazi's retreat from the city. It's now named after him, in so small part thanks to his friendship with Charles Ritz. Son of hotelier Cesar Ritz, Charles became close with Hemingway during his stays and gifted him a pocket watch upon his fourth wedding in Cuba. This pocket watch, to be exact. Made by L. Leroy & Cie., circa 1920, it has a 53mm case and a manual movement with a split-seconds chronograph — handy for another of Hemingway's passions, horse racing. It will be accompanied by a second Vacheron Constantin pocket watch belonging to Ritz and a signed photograph of Ritz in a gilt frame when it goes up for auction at Christie's Important Watches and American Icons sale.