A wristwatch that belonged to former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was sold Monday at a public auction for $95,000.
The watch, a Rolex 1680, was purchased by Yitzhak and his wife Leah during his tenure as Israeli ambassador to the U.S. in 1972 at a local jewelry store in Washington.
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Former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and his Rolex wristwatch
(Photo: Tirosh Auction House)
After Rabin's assassination in 1995, the watch was inherited by his son Yuval, who put it up for sale at the Tirosh Auction House in Israel at a starting price of $50,000.
Ahead of the auction, the watch was estimated to be sold for $60,000-$80,000.
The buyer, an Israeli high-tech businessman residing in the U.S., said that he bought the watch as it was a symbol of the hope for peace within Israeli society and with its neighbors.
"Today I am acquiring Rabin's beloved Rolex as a symbol of how long it has been since we gave a chance for peace among ourselves and our neighbors," he said.
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King Hussein of Jordan, U.S. President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at the signing of the bilateral peace treaty at the White House, July 25, 1994
(Photo: Archive)
"As a tech investor, I know how difficult it is to make changes but also know how inevitable change is," he said.
"I look forward to the day when every second that this watch is ticking is bringing real change in the way we Israelis treat one another, regardless of political views, heritage and background, and the way we Israelis treat our neighbors," the buyer said.
"I hope to one day have the honor of leading or supporting the massive change that is coming to Israel, change that Rabin could have achieved if time had not been taken from him so tragically."