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Festina F12 Steel Mens Watch - OWNED & WORN BY HARRY BELLAFONTE with COA
Certificate of Authenticity - Full Provenance with 2 COAs - 1 Year Warranty
Today’s offering showcases a special treasure from our COT Celebrity Collection: a stainless steel Festina F12 reference 8995 wristwatch personally owned and worn by the legendary Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Harry Belafonte. Far more than an entertainer, Belafonte was an artist who reshaped culture.
Harry Belafonte was one of the most celebrated entertainers of the 20th century—a trailblazing singer, actor, and activist whose artistry reshaped popular culture. Dubbed the “King of Calypso,” he introduced Caribbean music to mainstream audiences around the globe. His landmark 1956 album Calypso became the first LP in history to sell more than one million copies, fueled by the enduring popularity of Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)—a song that remains especially recognizable to this day. His warm, charismatic stage presence and magnetic voice made him a household name, while his work in film, including Carmen Jones and Island in the Sun, broke new ground for Black actors in Hollywood.
Belafonte’s career was recognized with some of the industry’s highest honors. He won a Grammy Award for Calypso, later receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His performances earned him Emmy and Tony Awards as well, making him one of the rare “EGOT” recipients. In 1989, he was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 2014 he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his profound influence on both culture and conscience.
Equally celebrated for his activism, Belafonte was a close confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a tireless champion for civil rights, social justice, and humanitarian causes. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, supported the anti-apartheid movement, and worked with UNICEF as a goodwill ambassador. His fearless voice against injustice and his lifelong commitment to equality cemented his legacy not only as an entertainer but as a moral leader of his era. To own a watch worn by Belafonte is to hold a personal connection to a man whose artistry brought joy to millions and whose convictions helped change the world.
This watch:
The Festina F12 offers a balance of practicality and style. Its curved rectangular stainless steel case wears comfortably on the wrist. Its silver dial is crisp and functional, with luminous dauphine hands, applied Arabic numerals, baton hour markers, and dual registers for day and date, giving it both clarity and sophistication. With its signed crown, durable 5 ATM water resistance, and dependable quartz movement, the F12 is built for reliable everyday wear, yet its streamlined tank-style design ensures it pairs effortlessly with both casual and formal attire. It’s a versatile timepiece that blends contemporary durability with timeless appeal.
It remains in overall good condition. We have not cleaned or polished the watch or done anything to the outside of it - we left it just as we acquired it, which includes signs of wear.
On the inside, one of our Master Watchmakers has installed a new battery making it ready for enjoyment.
Our's Renowned Celebrity Collection:
This watch is part of our Celebrity Collection of watches that has been featured in GQ, Revolution Watch, Europa Star, JCK, Hampton's Magazine, Gotham Magazine, Vegas Magazine, Silicon Valley magazine and many others. eBay just recently partnered with us for an exclusive, special sale for seven of the watches.
The collection has been composed of 107 watches and clocks owned or worn by 55 iconic celebrities and public figures. It may be the largest current collection of celebrity-owned watches in the world. It is constantly changing and is currently headlined by timepieces owned by some of the most legendary Hollywood actors and actresses, musicians, comedians, and entertainers:
The King, Elvis Presley. (Just sold)
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson. (Just sold)
The King of Comedy, Jerry Lewis.
The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. (Just sold)
Hollywood icons Steve Martin, Red Skelton, Martin Sheen, Burt Reynolds, Laurence Olivier, James Arness...
Category
2010s Swiss Wrist Watches
