Carole Radziwill, famed for her appearances on “The Real Housewives of New York City,” has opened up about her experience with a Cartier Tank watch that once belonged to former First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis. This illustrious timepiece, which she inherited from her late husband, has garnered a reputation for being “cursed,” particularly following a series of tragic events experienced by its past owners.
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Radziwill received the iconic watch as a gift from her late husband, Anthony Radziwill, who was Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ nephew. The watch, originally given to Kennedy Onassis by her father-in-law Prince Stanislaw Radziwill in 1963, bore an inscription that commemorated a significant event in Kennedy Onassis’ life. Following Anthony’s death from cancer in 1999, Radziwill began to contemplate the ominous history associated with the watch, prompting her to auction it through Christie’s.
In a recent appearance on Haley Sacks’ Financial Tea podcast, Radziwill revealed her belief in a connection that spans across generations of women who owned the watch. She noted a troubling pattern: all three women, including herself and her best friend, became widowed in their thirties. Radziwill reflected on this unsettling phenomenon, stating, “There was something about that watch that linked all of us. The curse was three women were in possession of the watch and all three were widowed in their 30s.”
Faced with this horrifying possibility, Radziwill decided to part with the watch in 2017. She expressed her wish that Cartier would reclaim the watch, thereby nullifying the supposed curse. “I had this idea,” she explained, “like, when you return something that’s cursed to its place of origin, it breaks the curse.” Although grounded in logic, she admitted to believing in the influence of the universe and the power of coincidence.
The auction attracted considerable attention, with Cartier expressing interest in the historical piece. However, it was Kim Kardashian who ultimately placed the winning bid of $379,500, securing the watch just as the auction was nearing its conclusion. Kardashian confirmed her ownership in a 2019 Vogue interview, indicating that she wore the piece during a visit to the White House, feeling empowered by its historical significance.
Despite Kardashian’s acquisition of the watch, Radziwill felt apprehensive, worrying about the potential repercussions of the so-called curse returning to her. Although the two women had not met, connections through mutual acquaintances made her anxious about the legend surrounding the watch. “I started to think that maybe the curse would boomerang back at me,” Radziwill shared on the podcast.
Rumours surrounding the watch’s negative aura reportedly reached Kardashian as well. Following her purchase, the reality star decided to return the watch to Christie’s, where it was temporarily stored before being returned to Cartier. Radziwill conveyed her understanding of the decision, acknowledging the weight that such an item carries.
In addition to the Cartier Tank watch linked to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Radziwill also inherited a Cartier toe ring, which holds sentimental value due to its association with Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, the wife of John F. Kennedy Jr. These connections to the Kennedy family deepen Radziwill’s personal history with high-profile accessories.
As stories unfold about the journey of the Cartier Tank watch, the intersection of personal tragedy and historical legacy remains symbolic for both Radziwill and Kardashian. The auction and subsequent return of the watch have sparked conversations about the power of objects and the whispers of the past that can linger around them. It raises intriguing questions about legacy, ownership, and whether certain items are indeed tied to a greater narrative than we can fully understand.