Kurt Cobain's Personally Owned, Stage and Screen-Worn Wrist Watch.
It was the only watch he wore, according to good friend and legendary Babes in Toyland singer Kat Bjelland. Kurt Cobain's wrist watch, like most pieces in his wardrobe, was staple. Worn until his last days, the watch was everywhere: during the taping of the 1993 Nirvana Unplugged album and video, in Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box" music video, in multiple press photos with his bandmates, even in random candid shots, the watch is ever-present. No stylist required by the anti-fashon icon... individuality is funny that way.
That original watch -- Kurt's odd little black timepiece -- is offered here for the first time at auction, with a touching and fascinating provenance. The aforementioned Kat Bjelland was given the watch within days of Cobain's funeral as a memento of her longtime friend (as a gift from his wife Courtney). According to Bjelland, it stopped ticking one week after Kurt's death. She chose to leave the watch unrepaired.
The story behind the image on the timepiece -- the face on the face -- is also quite unique, and emblematic of Cobain's unpretentious character: the watch is a Hong Kong-manufactured promotional item for a Seattle-area car dealer, Tom Peterson, and only a handful were produced.
Although it's missing part of the wrist band, the watch is in good shape considering how often Cobain wore it. A typical result of sweat, greenish oxidation is present on the back, and a tiny rhinestone (which once sat at the 12 hour) has been shaken loose within the frame of the face.
The watch comes with a notarized letter from Kat Bjelland and is in overall Fine condition. In the end, an entire generation was touched by Cobain's music and persona, both of which are emulated to this day -- fans young and old simply want to feel a connection to the iconic musician. And if anything represents Kurt Cobain's iconic style, this is it.