Theodore Roosevelt’s Stolen Watch Winds Its Way Home
It has been returned to the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in New York nearly 40 years after being taken while on loan to a Buffalo museum.

Taken while on loan for a museum exhibition, the watch eventually found its way from New York to a Florida auction house, where an auctioneer’s suspicion that the piece may be connected to the 26th president of the United States led him to research its origin.
NPS special agents, with assistance from the FBI Art Crime team, were tapped to recover the artifact after two historic sites connected to the former president’s estate confirmed its authenticity.
A repatriation ceremony took place June 27 in New York to officially mark the return of the timepiece to Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, where it had been since Roosevelt’s death in 1919.
Located on New York’s Long Island in the town of Oyster Bay, Sagamore Hill was Roosevelt’s home and was known as the “Summer White House” for the summers he spent there while president from 1901 to 1909.
The watch will be on display in a special exhibit at the historic site, free for public viewing for the next three months.
It was last on public display at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site in Buffalo, New York.
Sagamore Hill had loaned the timepiece to the museum for an exhibition.
On July 21, 1987, the FBI reported the pocket watch had been stolen.

No suspects were arrested in connection with the theft, and the watch’s whereabouts were unknown for decades until it reappeared at an auction house in Florida last year, NPS said.
The auctioneer thought the 1800s pocket watch may have belonged to Roosevelt, who had many pocket watches during his life.
According to the NPS, this particular timepiece was a gift from his youngest sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, and his brother-in-law, Douglas Robinson Jr., in 1898, ahead of his departure to fight in the Spanish-American War.
The Waltham-manufactured pocket watch bears an inscription reading, “THEODORE ROOSEVELT FROM D.R. & C.R.R,” as seen in the photo at the top of the article.
On May 5, 1898, Roosevelt wrote to his sister, “Darling Corinne, You could not have given me a more useful present than the watch; it was exactly what I wished … Thank old Douglas for the watch – and for his many, many kindnesses.”
The watch accompanied Roosevelt, a lieutenant colonel, as he led the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry and was with him during his charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba and while hunting in Africa.
Roosevelt mentioned the watch while detailing a difficult bayou crossing in his 1914 book, “Through the Brazilian Wilderness,” writing, “One result of the swim, by the way, was that my watch, a veteran of Cuba and Africa, came to an indignant halt.”
The timepiece was repaired following Roosevelt’s overseas adventures, and NPS said it likely went on to accompany him throughout portions of his presidency, including his two inaugurations.

FBI Special Agent Robert Giczy, a member of the FBI Art Crime Team who investigated the provenance of the watch, described the timepiece as a “fairly pedestrian” Waltham 17-jewel watch with an inexpensive coin silver case.
It is a “Riverside” grade, model 1888 with a hunter-style case, meaning it has a lid on either side which fold and encase the dial and the movement.
Giczy praised the NPS, saying the agency does a “great job in enforcing and recovering our national property.”
“The repatriation of the watch would not have been possible without the close collaboration between the FBI and NPS. This partnership ensured that this historic treasure could be returned safely for future generations to enjoy,” he said.
The June 27 repatriation ceremony was attended by NPS Director Chuck Sams, members of the Roosevelt family, and representatives from the NPS, as well as representatives from the FBI, including the New York, Miami, and Tampa field offices and members of the Art Crime team.
“It is an honor to have a role in preserving American history for current and future generations to learn from,” Sams said, according to NPS.
“Recovering and returning this remarkable piece of presidential history, a cherished personal item of President Theodore Roosevelt, to its rightful home here at Sagamore Hill reflects the dedication and hard work of NPS and partners in the spirit of preservation.”

The watch will be featured in an exclusive exhibit at the Old Orchard Museum, part of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, and available for free public viewing over the next three months.
It is one of thousands of items originally gifted to the NPS by the Roosevelt family through the Theodore Roosevelt Association in 1963 and will remain part of the permanent museum collection.
“The stories this watch could tell over the last 126 years include colorful and profound moments in American history,” said Jonathan Parker, superintendent of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site.
“Historic objects are powerful because they are literal participants in historic events, and in the case of this storied watch, it is also a beloved family heirloom of a renowned American president. Almost 40 years have passed since the public had last seen President Roosevelt’s watch, and we’re excited to place this watch back into the light on public display.”
The Latest

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.


The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.

Alex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.

The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.

The ruby and the sapphire, which Christie’s calls a “once-in-a-generation masterpiece,” are part of the upcoming Hong Kong jewelry auction.

The time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

From striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.

The jewelry giant is reducing its senior leadership by 30 percent as part of its new turnaround strategy.

The auction house's partnership with online watch servicing platform WatchCheck makes repairs convenient and accessible, it said.

The company also noted record sales in the United States and a strong performance in its jewelry category.

The event, set for June 13-15, will feature educational presentations and guided visits to the state’s sapphire mines.

After the black enamel band became a best-seller for the brand, it has now launched an enamel ring personalization program.

The Austin, Texas, jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot store is set to open this summer.

The rapper and singer-songwriter will perform at Tao Beach on June 8.

“Conversations with Chris Ploof” covers tips for men buying wedding bands, behind-the-scenes footage of Ploof in his studio, and more.

As lab-grown diamond brands pop up across India, academics are researching how to grow demand outside of the jewelry industry.

The moves are part of the retailer’s new turnaround plan, “Grow Brand Love,” which also includes emphasizing brand loyalty over store banners.

The “Rush Hour” campaign stars Zoë Kravitz in bold, wearable pieces designed to make a statement in the workplace.

Breitling is reviving Gallet, which was founded in 1826 and is known for making watches used in the early days of long-distance travel.